Approaching the tenth Sunday in ordinary time (part 3).

Where we are heading to (readings for Sunday Jun 9):

1 Kings 17.17-24

Psalm 30

Galatians 1:11-24

Luke 7:11-17

Readings for today:

Psalm 30

2 Samuel 14.25-33

Matthew 9.2-8

Brief thoughts for today:

Having been allowed to come to Jerusalem, Absalom is still not  permitted to see the King. Two years go by - he is in a kind of limbo. After going out of his way to move Absalom and David towards reconciliation, now Joab seems to have lost interest and Absalom must resort to desperate measures (torching Joab's field) to get his attention. In the end Absalom and David meet again after five years and are reconciled. However, if you read on into chapter 15  you will see that things go down hill again almost immediately! Maintaining a peaceful coexistence seems tricky for this father and son - just as it does for many people. God enters this broken world in Jesus and offers a man forgiveness. Not that this man has done any more harm to neighbour and God than any other - he, like us, needs to here the invitation of Grace. Like Absolom, we may still fail in our relationships with family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, but God will not fail us.

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission.