TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

PROPER 13

My Brothers and Sisters

In the Old Testament reading this morning, God tells Moses to instruct Pharoah to release the people of Israel from captivity. Moses responded with many excuses. He did not have the capability; he was not articulate; he was too insignificant to approach Pharoah; the people would not listen to him.

God’s response – Do you know who I am? I Am.

I will bring you out.

I will rescue you from your bondage

I will redeem you

I will take you as my people

I will be your God

I will bring you into the land

I will give it to you as a heritage

This is divine declaration made in answer to statements of human frailty.

When Moses relayed the message to the Israelites, they refused to listen. Seven hundred years later when Jesus read from Isaiah’s prophesy to the people, they did not trust him either. In August 1865, Paul Bogle walked from Stony Gut in St. Thomas to Spanish Town to speak out against the poverty and injustices of the day. He was convicted and hung by the authorities. Injustice continues. Slavery continues.

Like the people of Israel, we have been and are going through difficult times:

• The unfair treatment of employers to employees

• The continual abuse, trafficking and enslavement of our children

• Our brothers and sisters are still suffering from the impact of Hurricane Melissa more than we can ever imagine

• Natural and human disasters continue to impact our people

• The standard of living is falling as people try to keep pace with inflation

• Wars and rumours of wars seem to be constant

When the Israelites left Egypt, they had no idea what the journey would be like. God called for a movement in faith. We are and will be called over and over again to do likewise. As we journey through our wildernesses, let’s keep at the forefront the covenant that does not fail – I Will. God’s covenant is true today as it was thousands of years ago.

Ready obedience is always according to the strength of our faith.

Though our weaknesses ought to humble us, yet they ought not to discourage us from doing our best in any service we have to do for God. The Moses in us will respond in fear and trepidation when faced with difficult circumstances. I AM reminds us of His self-existence and unchanging character.

Sometimes we may find ourselves in a place where it is difficult to trust God. The Israelites told Moses that, ‘Nuh betta nuh deh’. We know differently, don’t we? – Yes ‘Betta deh’. In his letter to the Corinthians Paul wrote:

‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’ 1 Corinthians 2:9

Yes, slavery continues – but the redeeming Christ through the Holy Spirit asks us to continue his mandate:

• to preach the good news to the poor

• to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind

• to release the oppressed

• to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour

This is exactly what we pray in our National Anthem:

Teach us true respect for all / Stir response to duty call/ Strengthen us the weak to cherish / Give us vision less we perish / Knowledge send us Heavenly Father / Grant true wisdom from above. / Justice, Truth be ours forever, / Jamaica, land we love.

Amen.

Happy Emanci-pendence



Sis Claudette Marshall