Reflections on the Christian Lectionary on the Tenth Anniversary of 9-11
The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt." Exodus 14:25 Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22 On the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Revised Common Lectionary offers us two texts, both with something important to say, neither of which alone says everything which must be said. The "us" of our concern, of course, is the church of Jesus Christ. While those of us who assemble in military chapels this Sunday morning closely identify with the armed forces, its mission and its members, it is not as "the Army" that we meet together in this place. "Brothers in arms" and "brothers in Christ" are not coextensive groups. Here, gathered around the font w...