A131 -Laughter, Hope and Hospitality (Genesis 18 and Matthew 9-10)

Rachel Kronberger joins us this week, the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, when we focus on Genesis 18:1-15 and Matthew 9:35-10:8, with a brief excursus into Romans 5. We trace the covenant promise from Gen 12, and the patience and faith required of Abraham and Sarah. We look closely at Sarah’s role and the subversiveness of her laughter. We note the image of God in Rublev’s (15th cent.) icon with its depiction of the visit of the three figures to Abraham and Sarah as the Trinity, and the way Rublev expresses hospitality in the story. We speak of suffering in both key texts, and note Jesus’ compassion for the people in the Matthew passage, and what it means for the ministry of the whole people of God.  We mention Brendan Byrne’s Lifting the Burden, Marylin Robinson’s Home, and Mark Brett’s Genesis. Follow us on Twitter @bythewellpod