Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Pentecost + 3 - Year A

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Many of us have been attending or following the Wisconsin United Methodist Church trial of Rev. Amy DeLong this last week. It is good to have that completed so wonderfully well with the trial court bringing a restorative justice decision that so minimized a so-called "penalty" that it actually became an Opportunity. Rev. Amy has been asked to lead the conference where it has not been able to go on its own - to find unity in inclusiveness.

Up to this point, the Wisconsin Conference has been very narcissistic, just like "spoiled children whining" [The Message]. Everyone has gone their own way, picking one out of many streams of tradition that suits an individual's bias, and demanding it be the only legitimate way to interpret the future. This is like trying to drive forward by only looking in the rearview mirror. There is not going to be a pretty outcome.

Captive to ideology, both left and right, it becomes impossible to recognize the release of "power" ["dynamis" - inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth]. Everyone has been captured by their own "Law". This is a continuation of Mt. 5:18, in the Common English Bible, that indicates Law functions "until everything there becomes a reality". In the meantime Law, whether yours or mine, blinds us to a reality already among us (the rapture has already happened, G*D's presence is already here - listen to Janet Wolf). When we take our eye off the miracle of reality, we are ripe for capture by one Law or another, masquerading as some end-all or be-all.

Here are two signs of health from the just concluded trial.

A trial court able to bring a restorative justice opportunity instead of a "penalty" and  A T-shirt graphic by Rev. Amy that doesn't demand she be you or you be she.

With these we can dance together rather than demand another dance for us by shooting at their feet.