10/4
Quick
stop late in the day. The Revolutionary Communists leaving after a long
meeting. Frog & Peach taking a break during final rehearsals for Titus
Andronicus. Berik working alone on his computer.
10/5
Today we’re starting a new series: …He’s got the whole
world in his hands..and our theme of the day, Back to Basics.
We’ve got no other accompanist today, so after we
finish Psalm 19, I play the Melodians By the Rivers of Babylon:
By the rivers of Babylon
Where we sat down
And there we wept
When we remembered Zion.
Oh the wicked carry us away, captivity
Require of us a song.
How can we sing Jehovah’s song in a strange land?
Oh let the words of my mouth and the meditations
of our hearts
Be acceptable in thy sight, Oh Lord.
Our sermon text today is Exodus 20: 1-14, 7-9, 12-20,
the Ten
commandments. I start by saying here’s a lot converging. World Communion Sunday. World peace day. The end of Yom
Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. The Muslim Eid al Aha. This is where we
begin our look at the whole world in
God’s hands…with a look at our most basic legal, moral code.
There are different ways to organize. To count. In
Hebrew, it’s the ten words, or the ten
sayings. Leading to the Greek, Decalogue, 10 words…It was The Geneva Bible that
was first to use tenne commandements. In fact in Hebrew, the word TORAH is more accurately translated teaching, than LAW.
There are only two positives and eight negatives.
The Ten Commandments get down to basics, to
worship only God, the greatest injury to another person (murder), the greatest injury to family
bonds (adultery), the greatest injury to commerce and law (bearing false
witness), the greatest inter-generational obligation (honor to parents), the
greatest obligation to community (truthfulness), the greatest injury to
movable property (theft).
The writing of these
ten commandments most likely dates to the time of Solomon…foundational rules
for organizing a kingdom…..and they have a universal quality. BASICS.
We talk about those that are problematic. Like
thou shalt not kill, which we have now understand is closer to murder. And
stealing, especially in a day when businesses steal more from employees than
burglary, larceny and robbery combined. As we’ve learned from our
anti-sweatshop friends, from the most vulnerable workers. And envy, that one is really
hard…
Anna remarks on the
absence of gluttony. One of the seven deadlies, but not the big ten…
Ultimately, I feel like
all the commandments after the first are simply variations of idolatry, having
other gods beside god. Last week we
talked about authority…who’s in charge…and this comes back to that question…perhaps ALL truly are based on
first….
We sing He’s got he whole world in his hands…the old
children’s song…and the officially welcome
Anna into membership as Leila stands by her side on behalf of the session.
 |
| Anna, Blueberry, Leila and Puppy |
The after communion, we do our St. Francis moment and bless
puppy and Blueberry both under Anna’s care today.
I stay after service
to wait for Tina. She was trying to get here for worship, but didn't quite make
it. She’s come with her friend Martha. An artist who has painted a beautiful
portrait of Tina. She keeps waiting for the loss of Teddy to get easier. It’s
going on two years now. But it doesn’t. I understand how she feels. Sometimes
it’s hard to let yourself grieve because you’re not sure how stop. I know. No
easy answers. But she has an amazing life force, and sense of humor, that is
indefatigable. I admire her. And appreciate the laughter. Outside on the steps,
it’s as close to perfect an October day as you’ll get.
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