Proper 15 Year A

Twelve Months of Sundays – Year A
Ordinary Time
Proper 15
Genesis 45.1–15
Romans 11.1–2a, 29–32
Matthew 15.10–28

Look at the word God in Genesis 45. All these years later, with plenty of free time to
ponder his brothers’ evil deeds and build up resentment, what comes out of Joseph’s
mouth is a doctrine of providence strong enough for eleven men to stand on.

There was no question, of course, of having the story of Joseph, or indeed the whole
majestic sweep of Romans 11, read aloud all in one. But the depth and subtlety of
character, plot and motive (study Judah some time and you’ll see what I mean) are
unsurpassed. Why not a dramatic reading, with a couple of actors from the
congregation – not least to remind people of the story behind the musical? The
theme, which the musical glimpsed but never quite grasped, is God . . . God . . . God.
The strange but ultimately trustworthy, and even beautiful, ways of God. The Gospel
reading is all about God doing things which were utterly unexpected, overturning the
taboos that kept the Jews a cut above their neighbours. Unexpected, yet with
hindsight they made a lot of sense...

Taken from Twelve months of Sundays year A by N T Wright