June 23, 2009

Texts:
Genesis 47 and 48
Matthew 17

Genesis--Notice that the system of Pharaoh is a system of anxiety and scarcity. There is no abundance. When you get seed or livestock, you have to give something in return. Nobody gets ahead. And people end up so far behind they end up in slavery.
Jacob/Israel is about to die, but doesn't want to be buried in Egypt. And he doesn't want to give his blessing to one of his own children. But he wants to give his blessing to Joseph's son. And, in another subverted inheritance, he gives the blessing to the younger of the two.

Matthew--Transfiguration! This is one of those stories that made more sense to first century people who were used to the tradition of encounters with the divine. Prophets would be transfigured. Angels appeared. This story seems, to us, like a commercial for laundry bleach--"His clothes became dazzling white!" Elliott described his bright white new tennis shoes the other day as "as white as God's own shoes". Because, clearly, God's sneakers would have to be bright white to match his transfigured countenance and robe.
How might this story translate in to the 21st century?