Healing brokenness

Genesis 21:8-21; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39

One of the things I love about Scripture is that the people are so human! There are no pretenses with the characters who people our Bible stories. They are us in so many ways!

Recently I was commiserating with a friend about our uncommunicative family members: her daughter, my son. It seems every family has someone who is disconnected with others in the family for their own reasons. So many families are broken!

Our nation, our world, is filled with similar brokenness. Because of our very human nature, we have wars all over the world, in Ukraine, in Sudan, in Myanmar, in Venezuela. The Jews and Palestinians can’t figure out how to share the land they both have ancient claim to.

… Today, we see brokenness in Genesis and in Matthew’s Gospel, and as an underlying theme in Romans as well.

This story about Sarah, Hagar, and Abraham is so 21^st century! Hagar is the other woman, Sarah has just realized there will be a problem in seniority if the two sons grow up together, and Abraham says, “Remember, that child of hers is my son!” Doesn’t it sound just like Days of Our Lives or General Hospital?

Sarah complains to Abraham and he goes to talk about this problem with his best friend, God, who gives him some advice and a firm promise. Don’t be afraid! I have great plans for both of your sons. Isaac is the one through whom all the world will be blessed. The other boy, Ishmael, will also be the ancestor of a great nation. I promise that it’s ok if you send Hagar and the child away as Sarah asks.”

So, Abraham sends Hagar and the child away, but things don’t go so well for mother and son. They run out of water before they can reach the next encampment. They cry out to God; God responds with assurance of the promise to make a great nation from Ishmael’s descendants; and shows them the well they didn’t see before.

There is brokenness between the two families for a long time, but they are together again at Abraham’s burial. Today, some of the descendants of Ishmael call themselves Muslims. They continue to worship and pray to the same God as the descendants of Isaac, whom we call Jews and Christians.

… In Matthew’s story of Jesus, we find him continuing his instruction to the disciples. Telling people about the good news will not be easy for them. Jesus makes it clear here that he is not the warrior messiah they have been looking for. He will definitely NOT be gathering an army, although he does bring a metaphorical sword. His followers will encounter anger and brokenness. They will discover that some will believe in Jesus, and some won’t, and this mismatch in beliefs will tear families and communities apart. It may cost them their physical lives, but it will save their spiritual lives.  

Despite the challenges ahead, Jesus promises all will be well. Jesus/God knows every sparrow, every person, and all the hairs on all their heads. He assures them, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.”

…  Paul’s writing hits us in the here and now, even though it was written 2,000 years ago. Our old, sinful self has been united with Jesus on the cross. Sin is conquered. We are free from sin. So, why do we continue to live sinful lives? Where does the brokenness come from, since we have been resurrected? It comes from our human nature, of course.

God’s grace should send us into conflict to try to resolve it. It’s true, however, that it takes getting both parties to the table to resolve any conflict, major or minor. In the case of our children, my friend and I have reasoned that we have done nothing wrong, per se, but for some reason our children have chosen to withdraw from us. We feel comforted that this story is true for most families, so we are in good company. And we rely on Jesus to be present with us on days when the hurt feels deep and fresh.

… Brokenness abounds. Sarah and Abraham and Hagar and their sons lived near enough to each other so there were occasional encounters. The boys, Isaac and Ishmael, considered each other to be brothers, no matter what their mothers said. But there were occasional frictions between the communities in later years.

The disciples and the first few generations of believers struggled a lot to spread the good news without getting killed in the persecutions that arose here and there for the first 300 years. The Gospel of John seems to give evidence that their community of believers had been kicked out of the synagogue where they had continued to worship.

It’s true that people will disagree on what is right and acceptable. There are many ways in which people and families and communities are broken. There are oral and written laws relating to the rights of Jews from the days of the Roman Empire until now. There are oral and written laws relating to the treatment of women and the enslavement of people in many cultures, for thousands of years. There are oral and written laws relating to the ways people express their sexuality in many cultures, for thousands of years. It doesn’t mean these laws are just, or in keeping with God’s will.

Broken families and broken communities abound in our world. We can do what we can in situations that we are connected to personally. We can vote in every election, we can write letters to leaders and newspapers, and we can demonstrate in person against injustice.

And above all, we can count on Jesus’ Holy Spirit to be present with us. While Jesus can’t directly change the laws or feed hungry people or provide welcome to the oppressed in our communities, he can whisper in our ears and send thumps to our hearts that we are called to take action. Spirit will guide our speaking and writing and acting so the right words come forth and move our listeners and readers to take action.

This week, I hope you will pay attention to brokenness. Pray for healing, and that those involved will at least know that Jesus cares about them and how they suffer. If you see an opportunity to heal a broken relationship, go ahead and act – but pray first!

Amen