Genesis 22:1-14, Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18, and Matthew 10:40-42
I had a very busy week. Actually, rather than having many schedules, there were a lot of things to think about. The lectionary also invited me to cover very important and in-depth topics.
The first is death. Recently, gun-related accidents have been occurring all over the country. There have been incidents where a considerable number of police officers lost their lives for the sake of public safety. What particularly impressed me was that broadcasters live-streamed the funerals of these police officers. I recently watched parts of the Funeral for Toronto Police Constable Marc Pinizzotto on CTV. I feel that the culture of the entire society mourning together, including the funeral of Vancouver Police Officer Shaelyn Yang last year, is precious.
There are various ways to interpret and mourn death from a humanities perspective. Differences in religion can arise depending on the interpretation of continuity and discontinuity regarding life and death. There are psychological and philosophical approaches surrounding loss and healing. As seen in the collective memorial service for police officers mentioned earlier, there is a culture of sharing communal solidarity and memories. Here, the Bible and theology share diverse perspectives on death. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can confirm a connection to a world beyond the time on Earth where the body resides. Furthermore, today, as in the words of Genesis, we discover God, who uses even death as a tool to test our faith.
How can we understand God’s command to offer Abraham’s only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering to God? This is a completely different matter from asking someone to pluck the stars from the sky when dating. Honestly, if God were to ask me to sacrifice my son Sean’s life for God, I wouldn’t be able to do it. I simply expect and pray that the God I believe in will not demand such things from me, at least. Of course, God simply wanted to confirm Abraham’s obedience based on his faith. Abraham proved his faith through very fundamental and thorough obedience. God praised him as He saw that he did not withhold anything in the world from God. Abraham’s determination to return everything he has because it was given by God is very sincere. Even if God required my death, it would be difficult to obey, so the command to offer my children is very tough. However, God tests him so that many people may take Abraham as a model through him. Abraham’s attitude of placing no great value on anything before God challenges today’s Christians who fear God. The important thing is whether I, like Abraham, am choosing God first and above all other values.
Today, we will have Holy Communion shortly. What can we remember today through the death of Jesus? The fact is that even if it differs from my will, if God wills it, I must do God’s work. We can reflect on whether we have the faith to obey, even if we cannot understand all of God’s plans through our own reason, knowledge, and experience. Jesus also struggled. However, just like Jesus, who finally obeyed God’s will, and like Abraham, I want to walk this path of faith that transcends death with you today. This journey of faith is never easy. So, prayer is needed, and companions in faith are needed.
As one example, there were drug-addicted homeless people on the church lawn last Thursday. Glenn Allen was mowing the lawn and watering, but the homeless’ condition was not good. The Safe Harbour social division team arrived and attempted to handle the situation, but they were unable to do so. Unlike the typical case of fentanyl addiction, where physical signs are low, he ran around wildly here and there. He crossed the road across the middle school playground, and eventually, peace officers and even the RCMP were dispatched. As a result, the Safe Harbour team found him. It made me think a lot. It was a very pitiful situation, and at the same time, it was one in which the children at the daycare center and the middle school students could feel threatened. In addition, the young man under the influence of drugs was also at risk of being involved in a traffic accident. In addition, as part of our mission, we sometimes receive complaints, both large and small. For some, this can easily turn into criticism, with people asking, “How could the church do such a thing?” I actually receive a stipend for my ministry, but it deeply hurts my heart when church members who volunteer are criticized by others.
However, I thought about it the other way around. I think that such things can happen because of the high expectations for Christians and the high demands from society on the Knox congregation. The question, “Shouldn’t a church be like this?” is asked only when the church still has a reason to exist. People do not demand such expectations or high standards from churches that have stopped growing and are just waiting to close their doors. People are making requests of us because we are seen as a church with the capacity for a mission. I invite you to continue this precious ministry. Amen.