Kirshenblatt, Mayer (1916-2009)
Passover Seder at My Paternal Grandfather's, 1992
Matthew 18:15-20
Ouch!
In case you think that Jesus gave us rules
That we can use to run the church, some tools
For how to deal with disagreement;
Or how, in anyone's community,
The way to solve all that disunity
Is give the worst the kicked-out treatment -
Remember how he treated tax collectors,
Or people over in the Gentile sector,
And love them even more than it's convenient!
Scott L. Barton
“If another member of the church sins against you, go and
point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to
you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or
two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence
of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to
the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such
a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will
be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For
where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
+ + +
Exodus 12:1-14
Know How to Party!
This text, combining liturgy
And narrative in one,
Things like, "You shall" plus "I'll pass
over"
Say that we're not done
With any biblical "account"
Until we realize,
What makes it sacred is when we,
Somehow, internalize
The things that happened way back when;
Thus, in our time and place
The story's meant to give to us
A measure of the grace
That we still need, that is, the news
That God's the one who saves
From slavery, disaster; and,
From cradle to the grave
Will not abandon you, so therefore,
Do not hesitate,
Within your households everywhere,
Such love to celebrate.
Scott L. Barton
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This
month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month
of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of
this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household.
If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest
neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the
number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old
male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until
the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of
Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and
put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.
They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the
fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled
in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You
shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the
morning you shall burn. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your
sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it
hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. For I will pass through the land of
Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt,
both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute
judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where
you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall
destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be a day of
remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord;
throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
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