Who may abide with God?
Epiphany 4 Year A
The Bible passages we read today all attend to questions posed in Psalm 15: who may dwell in God’s tabernacle; who may abide on God’s holy hill? In other words, who is righteous? Which thoughts, words, and actions characterize sinners and which saints?
The prophet Micah’s (6:1-8), in the first reading, responds to these questions in a court room drama. God is the judge in this court. Seated in the jury box are the earth’s mountains, transformative historic events, matriarchs and patriarchs of Israel, and foreign leaders. The defendant is Israel. The defendant, pleaded their case, saying, we worship on feast and fast days; we pledge our money, produce, and cattle; we dedicate our first born children to atone for our sins. The judge issued instructions before jury deliberations. The judge says, people who are innocent of a great offense, sinners who pursue redemption, and those who abide with God “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God!” Micah 6:8
The reading from Psalm 15 echoes the judge’s instructions. The psalmist lists examples of thoughts, speech, behaviors of believers. People who dwell in God’s tabernacle and abide on God’s holy hill endeavor to lead blameless lives; tell the truth; do not engage in malicious posts, talk, and texts; they refrain from doing evil to friends; and resist showing contempt for neighbors. An offertory sentence in the Book of Common Prayer reflects the biblical norms in Micah 6 and Psalm 15. The celebrant says, before donations are collected and worshippers receive the body and blood
of Christ,
If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift before the altar and go; first be reconciled, and then come and offer your gifts and yourselves to God. Matthew 5:23, 24
Paul’s First Letter to the Christians in Corinth (1:18-31) offers a response to the question of who dwells with God. Paul was clear, people who walk and talk with God do not live by worldly standards. The social, political, or financial benchmarks of this world are not the Holy One’s standards for believers. Jesus is our role model. When believers take up our crosses to follow Christ, we tap into power and wisdom beyond anything humanly possible. Paul said,
...God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are... 1 Corinthians 1:?-?
Jesus endowed the believers in Corinth with power and wisdom. Those of us who attend church must engage in Christ like acts, have Holy Spirit thoughts, and use Godly speech.
Jesus’ sermon in Matthew (5:1-12), known as The Beatitudes, explains how to be with God and avoid the devil. When Jesus said ‘blessed are you,’ he was not describing the recipe for happiness. The poor, mourners, the meek, hungry people, the merciful and pure in heart, peace makers, and folks persecuted for taking up their crosses would not be sprinkled with angel dust that magically transformed suffering and sadness into good feelings and happiness days. The blessedness Jesus proclaims is a deep, God-centered, spiritually grounding state. Jesus declared a promise: believers living by Divine standards are rewarded. God’s rewards are bestowed here and now as well as in heaven. Blessed are you who are poor in spirit; you will experience the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who mourn; you will be comforted by faith communities, family, friends and neighbors, now. You will also be consoled by loved ones who died before you and angels when you get to heaven.
When we suffer while innocent, we’ll be compensated. When we are reviled because we’ve demonstrated God’s love and justice, we’ll be vindicated. When we trust God, we’ll be restored. Whenever advocates for justice are humiliated in social media posts or whistle blowers are fired, or green card holders are detained and deported or protesters are shot dead God sees. God does not just see injustice, God tends to the injured, oppressed, and dead. God’s seeing and tending is evidenced throughout secular and religious history. The prophet Elisha challenged Jezebel, she sent soldiers to kill him, so God met him in a still small voice to renew his courage. Hagar, Sarah’s slave, ran away after being physically abused, and God spoke to her face to face in order to rescue her and her baby from certain death in the wilderness. Absalom Jones’ worth as a human being and his religious vocation are confirmed. After he was ejected from the Methodist church he had worshipped in for decades, God inspired him to found the first congregation of African Americans in the Episcopal Church and sustained him through an overly long training and ordination process to become the first African American priest in the Episcopal Church. At this moment God is shedding light on the facts surrounding Debbie Brockmann and ChongLy Scott Thao’s arrests and detentions by Boarder Patrol Agents. God is also exposing the facts that caused the deaths of Renee Good, Charlie Kirk, Alex Pretti, and thousand of Iranian protesters not simply because there are videos. Just as God exposed the killer of Harvey Milk and generated social change in the aftermath of his assassination, God sees and is tending to these deaths and persecutions.
Do you have the right to abide with God? Yes you do! You do, when you endeavor to do justice, show kindness, and walk humbly with God. God is with you and you are with God. Moreover, for such efforts you will be welcome to abide with God in heaven. Everyone who strives to lead blameless lives; tell the truth; refrain from engaging in malicious posts, talk, and texts; do no evil to friends; and show no contempt for neighbors is blessed and will be blessed. Jesus’ sermon, Paul’s letter, the Psalm’s song, and prophet’s utterance challenge us to benchmark our thoughts, words and actions by Divine standards rather than worldly norms. Standing with the poor, practicing mercy, seeking justice, advocating for peace, and enduring ridicule may give us hell, but God has our backs. God will bless us now and, in the future, welcome us into heaven. Who may abide with God? People who authentically imitate Christ. Imitating Christ combats evil.
Who may dwell in God’s tabernacle? Anyone who engages in righteousness thoughts, words, and deeds showing hospitality to the vulnerable and patiently listening to people who utter fake news while trying to understand and forgive them. Righteous works frustrate the devil. When the church and those of us who attend church love as God loves, forgive as Jesus forgave, and do justice we dwell with God and we keep the devil at bay. Amen.
