Bible Text: Exodus 12:1-14 and Matthew 18:15-20 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
At first glance our Old and New Testament passages don’t have much in common. One is about the very first Passover and the other is about the importance of resolving a conflict. I suppose one could say that if you’re upset about a conflict among believers just be glad you weren’t Egyptian at the time of the conflict of the Passover. However as I began to study them together I realized there is a common thread, that of rules. Both passages lay out detailed instructions about what to do and when. Of all the passages in the Bible it would appear that these two passages were written by people who would have become Presbyterian, because the Presbyterian Church loves it’s polity and rules. Each year the church produces a booklet called The Book of Forms. In it there are over 500 rules and 10 appendices pertaining to the running and function of a congregation, presbytery and synod. Sometimes these rules are clear and concise like…..well, to be honest I spent an afternoon reading over the most recent Book of Forms and could not find a perfect example of a clear and concise rule. However, I did come across point 325, “Before bringing a complaint to the session it is the duty of the complainant to meet with the alleged offender to seek resolution of the issue” then it quotes directly from our Matthew passage. It is good to know that some aspects of our Book of Forms are scripturally based. The most frequent problem with rules and regulations is that they don’t always take into account all aspects of an experience. Rules tend to be black and white but we know that most of us function within a grey area. And I’m not just saying that because that is the predominant hair colour of our congregation. Not all rules can be so easily applied to every situation but sometimes understanding the reason for or the history behind a rule helps us to understand its uses.
The details pertaining to the very first Passover as found in Exodus 12 can seem rather over the top to us, even us Presbyterians. Emily Post herself would have found such attention to detail a little much. And yet the symbols behind each order are very meaningful. There are clear instructions regarding the lamb and its blood. These detailed rules are meant to emphasize the equal distribution among the community. Not one person should be deprived of the opportunity to participate in this meal. If a whole lamb is too much for one household than it shall join together with another and share in this meal. When the lamb is ready then it is divided in the same amount of pieces as people. But why a lamb? And why keep it for four days before preparing it? A rabbi professor in my undergraduate program once explained it to me. The ancient Egyptians worshipped lambs; the ram, a male sheep, was venerated most of all animals and there were many temples dedicated to various gods who had ram heads. So, taking a male lamb and placing it in their home and living with it for four days and then subsequently slaughtering and eating said lamb was an absolute affront to the Egyptians. The Israelites were sending a clear message to Pharaoh that their God was stronger and to be obeyed. It could have put the Israelites in physical danger. As a result it is a demonstration of the strength, courage, dedication and faith in God in the face of adversity.
Finally, there is the bizarre statement that this is not a meal to be savoured and enjoyed but to be eaten hurriedly with loins girded, sandals on your feel and your staff in hand. Personally that seems like the most awkward way to eat any kind of meal, especially one with so many rules, but there are reasons for these words also. There is an urgency to this meal and it symbolizes that everyone must be ready for the journey ahead. While this meal is meant to be consumed quickly it is also a sacred meal and therefore nothing should remain. Maybe some rules are meant to be broken but by following all these instructions the Israelites were demonstrating who they were and who God is. The Israelites had faith and confidence in God’s leading and purpose, even when it meant defying their oppressor, even insulting their oppressor by consuming a sacred animal. God also had a purpose to this meal that demonstrated the creation of something new. Out of the chaos of slavery God would redeem God’s people. The Israelites were ready for something new- from slavery to freedom. It is about starting over and starting fresh.
Matthew’s passage is also about starting over. Have you ever gotten off on the wrong foot when first meeting someone and you say, “Let’s try this again. Let’s start over.” Jesus’ instructions and rules in Matthew help us to tackle just that kind of situation. But they not only pertain to individuals but to maintaining the integrity of the whole community. This is a communal approach to dissent in which an individual has three opportunities: to rethink, re-evaluate and reconcile. This passage also has deep roots within the Hebrew tradition. Here Matthew quotes both Leviticus (19) and Deuteronomy (19) and then expands on those rules about conflict. We are already aware that Jesus’ words often caused dissent within the community. He was a controversial figure with some controversial words. On top of that at the time that Matthew’s Gospel was actually written Christianity was likely already a fledgling community, and as one can imagine such clear instructions about a conflict were necessary. This is a small group of people whose faith is against the cultural grain. They have a lot against them in that the average person not only doesn’t believe but doesn’t care. We are a church that is facing divisions. Many congregations have threatened to leave depending on a decision regarding inclusion of same sex couples while others are frustrated that the Presbyterian Church has not been clear on its inclusive stance. We are also facing a world in which decline in church attendance throughout the Western Hemisphere is visible. Our faith is against the cultural grain and most people not only don’t believe but could care less if the church existed or not. Despite being around for some 2000 years, we are a fledgling community in which division can be disastrous. Therefore Jesus’ words and instructions seem all the more important.
Then Jesus reminds us that it is not about how many gather in community, but rather how genuine the gathering is. Jesus’ closing remarks remind me of a quote, something like, “a couple that prays together, stays together” but I would argue a church that prays together stays together, and I don’t mean you sit and listen to me read off a prayer I wrote during the week, rather I mean genuinely praying with one another. We are a very unique congregation and part of that has to do with our Prayer Group. Rightly or wrongly I have never previously been in a Presbyterian congregation that had a Prayer Group like ours. To be perfectly honest, when I was first invited to the Prayer Group I said I would love to go but deep down inside I was terrified. I thought, what is this about? Am I going to some revival meeting? What kind of church has a prayer group? But instead I met a group of dedicated and devoted people who pray for each one of you. The prayers are simple, and each one has an opportunity to pray out loud if they wish but it is not required. What a gift! But you don’t have to be a part of the prayer group to pray for one another. We also have our new Prayer Partner ministry that will encourage partners to pray periodically throughout the year for each other. And I know many of you have prayer lists. The reality is, if we pray for and with one another, truly pray, then those things that divide us, opinions, personalities, behaviours and even beliefs will not conquer us.
I know that all of the regulations in the Book of Forms have a purpose and are necessary in helping us to follow procedures. Like the instructions for the first Passover meal some of those rules are symbolic and have meaning to their methods. But really there are only a few rules that are of the utmost importance. Let’s start with: Pray, simply pray for one another, and because we care for one another, having prayed for each other, all the other rules will come easy. Amen