"...May we who are strangers see each other, because we, like you, need to be seen to be believed."
Camels, Space and Shaking Things Up
August 18th, 2020
The gospel today includes the famous hyperbole demonstrating the impossible with the absurdity of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. The pandemic has certainly been a lesson in impossible situations and as we enter it's sixth month and the start of school, we feel like we are quite literally trying to force a camel through a tiny opening.
All the while we are getting more exhausted, discouraged, and frustrated with everything and everyone because it is so obviously completely insurmountable to fix this mess. But in today's gospel, Jesus shows us that the way to get through the impossible is to stop trying to control what God has covered and instead try something radically new, even if it is sure to upset some systems and people.
As a part of my reflection, I share a story about Audrey, pictured below, and how her family is shaking things up so that she can live and thrive with Cystic Fibrosis through the help of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Audrey's name means "of noble strength" so for our music offering I selected an amazing video of Mezumement, an all-female, Jewish a cappella group from the University of Maryland. They are performing their arrangement of Eshet Chayil, meaning "Woman of Valor". Popular Christian writer, Rachel Held Evans, started using this term to identify and celebrate women and to reclaim Proverbs 31 from the assignment list it had become, and return it back to the traditional Jewish celebration of the courage and bravery of women. Audrey, you are of noble strength and you will become a Woman of Valor!
With love and gratitude,
Teresa Stone
Director of Music
NOTE: A portion of my reflection addresses new sex abuse and assault accusations affecting the music of the church.
Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel | Matthew 19:23-30
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
"Eshet Chayil"
Arranged and performed by Mezumenet, the University of Maryland's only all-female, Jewish a cappella group.
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