Monday Thoughts on the Readings for Sunday, March 24th, 2019

On the Third Sunday in Lent, we see several themes.  We continue last week's "covenant" theme with a mention of the Lord's covenant with David.  We also see multiple references to confession, repentance, and forgiveness.  But the biggest claim we see within these passages addresses a common struggle among people who wrestle with their faith: are terrible events a sign of God's punishment?

In the italicized text below, you can find my reactions and first impressions to these readings from Isaiah, Psalms, 1 Corinthians, and Luke.  I invite you to share your reactions, questions, and comments below, especially those regarding how we understand the relationship between sin, tragic events (such as the current flooding in Nebraska and the mass shooting at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand), and the Lord.


Isaiah 55:1 - 9

 1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
 4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
 5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;
 7 let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

- How do we define “everyone” in Isaiah 55:1?  Does “everyone” include the nations we do not know that we shall call and receive because of the Lord our God (55:5)?

- Day laborers earned enough each day for the family to eat and not much more, if any more.  To work for another purpose would mean sacrificing meals.

- Notice that the Lord invites us to confession so that the Lord may give us mercy and forgiveness, and not just a lesser punishment.

Psalm 63:1 - 8

 1 O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.

 5 My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips

 6 when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.

 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. 

- The imagery, especially the reference to rich foods, in Psalm 63 suggests a high level of fulfillment and satisfaction if one receives the Lord’s covenant promises.

1 Corinthians 10:1 - 13

 1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.  5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.

 6 Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did.  7 Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play."  8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.  9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents.  10 And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.  12 So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.  13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

- Paul claims that Christ was present in the manna in the wilderness and water from the rock in the same way as Christ is present within our spiritual food and drink.  The connection to Holy Communion is apparent; it is less clear whether the water from the rock is meant to connect to the waters of Baptism or the wine of Holy Communion.

- Paul references several moments during the Exodus where the people fail to follow the Lord’s directions and they are punished severely for it.  Why is Paul, the resident expert on the Lord’s grace, suddenly focused on the Lord’s punishment for disobedience?

- Verse 13 is likely the biblical justification for the phrase “God does not give us more than we can handle.”  That’s a misunderstanding of Paul’s claim here.  But the passage does suggest that the Lord does not intend to overwhelm us if/when the Lord challenges us.  Of course, there are many more who can challenge us, and they will not show any restraint when it comes to finding and breaking our limits.

Luke 13:1 - 9

 1 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  2 He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?  3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.  4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them-- do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?  5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."

 6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.  7 So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?'  8 He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.

 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

- Is the claim “you will all perish just as they did” a threat to kill us or an observation that death without connection to the Lord is true death?

- How many people need to hear that their current afflictions or the death(s) of their loved one(s) are not punishments from the Lord because of their past sin(s)?  How many people are struggling with their faith because someone they trust told them that their troubles are either punishments from God or signs that they do not have enough faith?

- A quick Google search reveals that it can take up to six years for a fig tree to mature and bear fruit.  

Monday Thoughts on the Readings for Sunday, March 17th, 2019

We are now on the road to Holy Week.  This past Sunday, Jesus was tested by the devil and proved that he truly is the Son of God.  As we study the Gospel of Luke, Jesus' journey is, in large part, an intentional journey to Jerusalem...and Jesus knows exactly what Jerusalem is.

I have a lot of first thoughts and impressions regarding this set of readings assigned by the Revised Common Lectionary.  You can find my first thoughts in the italicized text below.  If you have any questions about what I have written or if you want to share your thoughts and questions about these passages, I invite you to share them in the comments below!


Genesis 15:1 - 12, 17 - 18

1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great."  2 But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"  3 And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir."  4 But the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir."  5 He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be."  6 And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

 7 Then he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess."  8 But he said, "O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?"  9 He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."  10 He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.  11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.

 17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.  18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates..."


- This is the second time that the Lord has appeared to Abram and promised many descendants and a land to call their own.  The first occasion happened 15 years prior (Genesis 12).  Also, this will not be the last time (Genesis 17 – 18).

- This ritual to seal the covenant was common in those days.  By walking through the trough filled with blood, the ones agreeing to the covenant were symbolically saying “I pledge to fulfill my obligations within this covenant.  If I fail to uphold my obligations, my blood may be spilled and my life may be forfeited.”

- What are Abram’s obligations under the covenant?  As far as we can tell, he has not pledged to do anything.

Psalm 27

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh-- my adversaries and foes-- they shall stumble and fall.

 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.

 4 One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.

 6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!

 8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, LORD, do I seek.

 9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!

 10 If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.

 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

 12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.

 13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

 

- In the face of any and all opposition, the psalmist remains confident in the Lord’s protection.

- The psalmist professes a belief that he will see “the goodness of the Lord” in this lifetime.  In much of the Old Testament, there is no mention of an afterlife, and death meant both the end of life and our separation from God.

Philippians 3:17 - 4:1

 17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.  18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.  19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.  20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 

- If I recall correctly, the belly was believed to be the source of desires.  Therefore, “their god is the belly” means that they are ruled by their desires, whether desires for food or for other material goods.

- Paul claims that our citizenship is in heaven even as he took advantage of his citizenship in the Roman Empire on several occasions.  Though he was a Roman citizen, Paul places his citizenship in heaven over and above his citizenship in the Roman Empire.  We may be citizens of one of today’s nations, but for Christians, this citizenship should mean less to us than our citizenship in heaven.

- Here is another occasion where Paul emphasizes the resurrection of the body.  Our bodies that can be (and are) corrupted will be transformed into bodies that cannot be corrupted.

Luke 13:31 - 35

 31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you."  32 He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.  33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.'  34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!  35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

- It may be true that Herod wants to kill Jesus, but it’s easy to read between the lines and see that the Pharisees are invoking Herod for their own desires to kill Jesus.

- Jesus’ accusation that Jerusalem kills the prophets sent to it reminds me of the story of a landowner sending servants to ask for his cut of the harvest from the people renting and tending to the land.  The people assault the servants, killing some of them.  In response, the landowner sends his son, thinking the renters will respect his son; instead, the renters kill the son, hoping to inherit the land when the owner dies (or perhaps is killed by the same renters.

- This comparison of Jesus to a mother hen is significant as it is one of a few feminine images of God.

- “Your house is left to you” takes on new meaning when we remember that the Gospel of Luke was written around 85-90 AD, 15-20 years after the destruction of the Temple.

Wednesday Thoughts on the Readings for Transfiguration Sunday (March 3rd) 2019

It's been a rather hectic month in my ministry.  My schedule has prevented me from taking the time to write up these reflections each week.  For that, I apologize.  I hope you will stick with me as I attempt to get back on track for writing these notes on a regular basis.

This week, the Church celebrates Transfiguration Sunday.  This marks the moment when Moses and Elijah appeared next to Jesus in front of his most trusted disciples.

This occasion also comes around during a major controversy in the United Methodist Church.  At a special assembly, the global denomination voted to keep and reinforce its prohibitions against LGBTQ+ marriages and ordinations.  Many are upset over this decision, and expectations are that the United Methodist Church will not remain intact as one denomination for very long.

For those who need to hear it, I will say this: no matter your past, your present, your gender, your sexuality, or your politics, you are loved by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

As for this week's readings, my first impressions are in the italicized text below.  If you have insights, comments, or questions to share, I invite you to leave them in the comments below.  I will get back to you as soon as possible so that we can discuss what you shared.

Exodus 34:29 - 35

 "29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.  30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.  31 But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them.

 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.  33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; 34 but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,  35 the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him."

- While the original reason for a veil over the communion elements was to keep flies and other insects off of the bread and out of the wine, many have made a connection between the veil over the elements and the veil over Moses’ face after being in the presence of God.

- This is the second time that Moses has returned from an encounter with God carrying the covenant tablets.  The first time, Moses returned to discover the golden calf, which his brother Aaron had created while Moses was away.  In response, Moses destroyed the first tablets.

Psalm 99

 1 The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

 2 The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.

 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!

 4 Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

 5 Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!

 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.

 7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.

 8 O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.

 9 Extol the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy.

- For whatever reason, I have no thoughts or impressions in response to this passage.

2 Corinthians 3:12 - 4:2

 12 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, 13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside.  14 But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside.  15 Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; 16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

 2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.  2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.

- 2 Corinthians 3:12 references a hope upon which the passage is based.  Looking back to 2 Corinthians 3:7 – 11, we find that this hope comes from the “ministry of the Spirit,” which has replaced the “ministry of death,” aka the Law “chiseled in letters on stone tablets.”  The Law arrived in glory, so the ministry of the Spirit must arrive and continue in greater glory than the ministry of the Spirit.

- Perhaps this is our approach to the continuing controversy in the United Methodist Church.  At their special assembly in St. Louis, the UMC has decided to stick with the ministry of death when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.  In contrast, the ELCA has (mostly) approached this issue over the last 10 years with a ministry of the Spirit, welcoming the LGBTQ+ community and recognizing them as children of God.

- We can continue in our various ministries only because the Lord has drawn us into the ministry of the Spirit.

Luke 9:28 - 36 [37 - 43a]

 28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.  29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.  30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.  31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.

 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"-- not knowing what he said.  34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.  35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"  36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

 37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.  38 Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child.  39 Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him.

 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not."

 41 Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."

 42 While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

 43 And all were astounded at the greatness of God

- Later in Luke 9, Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem, beginning his journey to the city.

- Do we read Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus about his first departure (crucifixion and death) or about his second departure (the ascension after the resurrection)?

- Peter’s instinct is to attempt to capture this moment by establishing a set of dwellings similar to those created during the Jewish Festival of Booths.

- Why does Jesus snap at the father’s request for his son?  To whom is he addressing this negative attitude?

Wednesday Thoughts on the Readings for Sunday, February 3rd, 2019

As I write up my reflections, the Midwestern United States is suffering from a brutal cold snap.  Many communities are experiencing below-zero temperatures with very dangerous wind chills.  We pray for everyone's safety, especially those who cannot avoid being outside in this weather.

For the Revised Common Lectionary readings, we get the rest of the story of Jesus returning to Nazareth and teaching in the local synagogue; unfortunately, it does not go well.  We also get a passage that we often hear during weddings but has more to say to us when we read the whole passage and read it in the context of the rest of 1 Corinthians.  If this were not enough, we also get Jeremiah's call story.

You will find some of my thoughts and reactions to these stories in italicized text.  I would love for you to share your first impressions from and questions to these passages in the comments below so that we can continue the conversation.


Jeremiah 1:4 - 10

 4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,
 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
 and before you were born I consecrated you;
 I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
 6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy."  7 But the LORD said to me,
 "Do not say, 'I am only a boy';
 for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
 and you shall speak whatever I command you.
 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,
 says the LORD."

 9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me,
 "Now I have put my words in your mouth.
 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
 to pluck up and to pull down,
 to destroy and to overthrow,
 to build and to plant."

- Does Jeremiah 1:7 change much if we look at it as this?
“But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, (insert excuse here); for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.’”

- The early part of the Jeremiah reading suggests that the Lord may also have had a particular calling in mind for us when the Lord created us.  Do we sense that we were “born to do” something?

- Jeremiah 1 reminds us that the youngest among us are also sent out as the Lord’s messengers and ambassadors.  Sometimes, they are sent to us, their elders.

Psalm 71:1 - 6

 1 In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.
 2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me.
 3 Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
 4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
 5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
 6 Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you.


- Sometimes, we question whether a young child can truly have faith.  Psalm 71 suggests that our relationship with the Lord can begin even before we are born.


1 Corinthians 13:1 - 13

 1 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.  9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; 10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.  11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.  12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.  13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

- Is it possible to have faith outside of love?  What does faith without love look like?  Is it a form of escapism: “I have everything that I need, and the rest of the world can go to hell!”?  Is it something like James 2:19 hints at: “You believe that God is one; you do well.  Even the demons believe – and shudder.”?

- Reading 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 together suggests that our spiritual gifts will come to an end (at our deaths?) but faith, hope, and love will not die.  Therefore, these things are greater than our spiritual gifts.

- “Seeing in a mirror dimly” doesn’t mean much to us because we have high-quality mirrors in our homes.  A better sense of Paul’s metaphor comes from trying to decipher details as we look at a reflection in a polished piece of metal.  Mirrors in the ancient world were usually a piece of polished brass or bronze.

Luke 4:21 - 30

 21 Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."  22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?"  23 He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'"  24 And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown.  25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon.  27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."  28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.  29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.  30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

- The people of Nazareth are greatly offended by the idea that the Messiah might be sent into the world for Gentiles as well as Jews.  The people want the Messiah to be for them alone.  Do we hesitate or resist the Lord’s calling to ministry when that ministry is for the benefit of people not like us and/or for people outside of our community/state/nation?

- What are reasons that families or congregations reject their children when they return home?  Come home with a significant other that is not the same race/nationality; Come home with a significant other that is the same gender; Express a political belief system that contrasts with the family/congregation; Personal failure that the family/congregation cannot forgive... what other reasons can you add to the list?

Wednesday Thoughts on the Readings for Sunday, January 27, 2019

In Southeast Indiana, many congregations have had to cancel their Sunday worship services the past two weekends.  Snow and ice have interrupted many congregational plans.  We have also missed taking time to reflect on Luke's account of Jesus' baptism, Jesus' first of seven "signs" in the Gospel of John, and the giving of spiritual gifts through the one Holy Spirit.

So how do we come back from this weather-imposed hiatus?  By diving into the image of the body of Christ and Jesus' visit to his hometown of Nazareth.  Though we've likely heard and/or read these stories before, we may focus on something new this time around.

What are you hearing in these familiar stories as well as these verses from Nehemiah and Psalm 19?  I'll share my impressions and questions in italics after each reading.  I invite you to share your impressions and questions in the comments below.


Nehemiah 8:1 - 3, 5 - 6, 8 - 10

1 ...all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel.  2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month.  3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.  6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.  9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

- Why did the people cry as the Law was being read?  Suggestions include: tears of joy; tears of confession that the people have not kept the Lord’s law for many years, perhaps for many generations; tears that the rebuilt Temple is not as large or grand as the Temple that was torn down by the Babylonians.

- Is there a special significance to the location where this took place, the square before the Water Gate?

Psalm 19

 1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

 2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;

 4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,

 5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.

 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;

 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;

 9 the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.

 11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

 12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.

 13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

- Psalm 19, which rejoices over how the Lord’s law/instruction spreads around the world, is a great pairing with the Nehemiah story in which the Torah is re-discovered, read, and interpreted to the Israelites.

1 Corinthians 12:12 - 31a

 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

 14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.  15 If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.  16 And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.  17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.  19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?  20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body.  21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."  22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.  26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.  28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.  29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?  30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?  31 But strive for the greater gifts.

- How often do we fall short of Paul’s description of spiritual gifts and the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12?  How often do we proclaim certain spiritual gifts as superior and other spiritual gifts as inferior?  How often do we declare that certain Christians are separated from the Body of Christ and that we do not need them?

- The “greater gifts” are identified in 1 Corinthians 13.

- How would you describe your personal strengths?  What do you do well?  How might you use your strengths and gifts to participate in what the Lord is doing within the world?

Luke 4:14 - 21

 14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.  15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

 16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

 because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

 He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind,

 to let the oppressed go free,

 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

 20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  21 Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

- Jesus is returning from his baptism in the Jordan River (Luke 3) and his time of testing in the wilderness (Luke 4:1 – 13).

- Jesus reads from Isaiah 61:1 - 2, but he seems to be re-interpreting Isaiah 61 as he reads it.  He drops certain phrases and adds others so that what he reads is an accurate description of his mission.

- While we can imply certain dropped phrases are covered by other phrases, the dropping of the phrase “to proclaim…the day of vengeance of our God” is a significant edit.  It reveals that Jesus’ mission is not a mission of revenge against those who have harmed the people of God.  Jesus’ mission will be achieved through acts of love, not acts of violence and war.

- “The year of the Lord’s favor,” or year of jubilee, was intended to be a divinely-ordered reset of the world.  In this year, all debts would be forgiven.  In this year, all lands that had been sold would be returned to the family of the original owner so that the family could retain their original land rights from the time the Israelites entered the promised land.  In this year, everyone could have a clean slate again.

- Although Israel was supposed to observe a “jubilee” year every 50 years, there is no record of Israel ever carrying out a “jubilee” year.

Monday Thoughts on the Readings for Sunday, January 20th, 2019

On this snowy Monday morning, I am looking ahead to Sunday's readings as I prepare to preach.  This week, we get the story of Jesus attending a wedding feast in Cana, where he bails out a host who runs out of a very important staple item for the feast.  We also get Paul addressing a dispute among the Corinthians regarding the greatest spiritual gift and an interesting declaration in Isaiah.  This set of readings is theologically rich and offers many opportunities for preaching themes.

Would you help me narrow this down to one focus?  I invite you to read these passages with me.  I will share my first impressions in italics.  You have the opportunity to share your impressions and questions in the comments below.  Let's study these passages together!


Isaiah 62:1 - 5

 1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
 and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
 until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
 and her salvation like a burning torch.
 2 The nations shall see your vindication,
 and all the kings your glory;
 and you shall be called by a new name
 that the mouth of the LORD will give.
 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
 and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
 4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
 and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
 but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
 and your land Married;
 for the LORD delights in you,
 and your land shall be married.

 5 For as a young man marries a young woman,
 so shall your builder marry you,
 and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
 so shall your God rejoice over you.

- Who is the speaker here?  Is it the Lord?  Or is it a Judean stating an intention to pester the Lord until the Lord acts like he wants?

- At the time this was written, people believed that both people and places were defined by their names.  The meaning of your name defined a key quality about you or the place in question.  So, if the local area was named “Azuvah” (“Forsaken”) and “Shmamah” (“Desolate”), you can assume it’s a tough place to live.  But if it is names “Hephzibah” (“My Delight is in Her”) and “Beulah” (“Married”), you can assume that it is a wonderful area in which to live.

Psalm 36:5 - 10

 5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,

 your faithfulness to the clouds.

 6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep;

 you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.

 7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

 All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

 8 They feast on the abundance of your house,

 and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

 9 For with you is the fountain of life;

 in your light we see light.

 10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,

 and your salvation to the upright of heart!

- The Isaiah passage comes from what is known as “Third Isaiah” which addresses the people after they have returned from the exile and are rebuilding Jerusalem.  The promise that the land will become prosperous once again matches the psalm’s references to all people taking shelter under the Lord’s wings and feasting upon the abundance of the Lord’s house.

1 Corinthians 12:1 - 11

 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.  2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak.  3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.

 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.  7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 

- If you are concerned about false prophets, Paul gives us a clear test: if the person in question can proclaim “Jesus is Lord,” then the Holy Spirit is within that person.

- Paul is attempting to settle a local argument over the greatest spiritual gift by pointing to the Holy Spirit and proclaiming that all spiritual gifts are equal to one another because they all come from the Holy Spirit.  He then moves into the argument that all spiritual gifts are necessary for the health and well-being of the Body of Christ (we will look at this more next week).

John 2:1 - 11

 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."  4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come."  5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."  6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.  7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim.  8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it.  9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now."  11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 

- Running out of wine would be a great embarrassment to the host of the wedding feast.

- In the Gospel of John, we highlight seven moments as signs that Jesus is the Messiah.  This is the first of these seven signs.

- For those who can afford it, a wedding feast like this might continue all week.  So the gathered community may need the 120-180 gallons of wine that Jesus has just created.

Wednesday Thoughts on the Readings for Baptism of Our Lord Sunday 2019 (January 13th)

This Sunday is "Baptism of Our Lord Sunday," which focuses on the day John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.  Because we are focusing on the Gospel of Luke this year, we read Luke's account of this moment...which is rather bare in its description.  There is no discussion between John and Jesus.  We don't even get a description of the moment of baptism!  We simply hear that Jesus was baptized during this time when John was baptizing many people.  So, what does Luke tell us about this moment?

In our other readings, we get a proclamation from the Lord through Isaiah, and psalm declaring the Lord's power over creation, and an interesting journey for Peter and John into Samaria.  There is plenty to consider here, and I hope you will join me in the discussion by commenting below.


Isaiah 43:1 - 7

 1 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
 3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
 4 Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.
 5 Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you;
 6 I will say to the north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth--

 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."

- The people were able to return to Jerusalem because Persia managed to conquer Babylon.  How much territory did Persia conquer?  Did their empire extend to Egypt and beyond?  (Later answer: yes, it did!  See this map from Wikipedia depicting the expansion of the Persian Empire from the mid-500's BC to the early 400's BC.)

- Arguing whether the Lord should exchange one people/nation for another concedes the claim that the Lord has the power and authority to make such exchanges in the first place.

- Later in Isaiah, the Lord will proclaim that all other nations will stream to Jerusalem and receive the same blessings that the Israelites receive.  We can infer this in verse 7, when the Lord calls for everyone “whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” to be gathered into the kingdom.

Psalm 29

 1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy splendor.

 3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters.

 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.

 7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.

 8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

 9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, "Glory!"

 10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.

 11 May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace! 

- Plenty of focus on "the voice of the LORD," which has the ability to speak things into being.

Acts 8:14 - 17

 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.  15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).  17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

- The early church had different baptismal formulations.  While the church eventually settled on baptizing people “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” it was common for people to baptize in the name of Jesus alone or even with the baptism of John (see Acts 19:1 – 7).

- This may be the basis for the old practice of “confirming” baptisms.  At one time, Roman Catholic bishops would travel across their territories and visit congregations to “confirm” all of the baptisms that had taken place since their last visit by laying hands on each of the baptized.

Luke 3:15 - 17, 21 - 22

15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

- The reading skips over the mention of Herod throwing John into prison in an attempt to keep the focus on Jesus.

- There is a tradition which claims that, by being baptized in the Jordan River, Jesus made all water holy.

- In Luke, there is a time delay between the baptism and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

- Luke's account is focused on the descent of the Holy Spirit and the voice declaring Jesus to be "my Son, the Beloved."  If we have read from the beginning, the declaration that Jesus is the son of God is not new information.  The question becomes: "What does this add to our understanding of who Jesus is?"  Does the presence of the Holy Spirit tell us anything?

- Luke 3 continues by noting Jesus’ age at this time (30) as well as Jesus’ family tree stretching back to Adam.

Wednesday Thoughts on the Readings for Epiphany 2019 (January 6th)

Happy New Year, everyone!

After the rush towards Christmas Eve, I am back to share my thoughts and reactions to the Bible readings (New Revised Standard Version) assigned by the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday.  This week, we will celebrate Epiphany, which marks the arrival of the "Wise Men" or "Magi" at Jesus' home.  This occasion also marks the official end of the Christmas season, which stretches from December 25th to January 5th (i.e. the 12 Days of Christmas).

While I will share my thoughts and responses to the passages in the italicized text below, I hope that the conversation does not end here.  I encourage you to respond with your insights and questions regarding these passages so that we can discuss them.


Isaiah 60:1 - 6

 1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
 2 For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
 3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

 4 Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms.
 5 Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
 6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.

- I’d bet that we hear this Isaiah reading today because of the references to light, gold, and frankincense.

- “Thick darkness” in Hebrew is a reference to a cloud.  “Thick darkness” covering the people may be something like a fog.

- Who is the “you” being addressed by Isaiah 60?  Is it Jerusalem?

Psalm 72:1 - 7, 10 - 14

 1 <Of Solomon.> Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.

 2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

 3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.

 4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.

 5 May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

 6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.

 7 In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.

 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.

 11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.

 12 For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.

 13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.

 14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.

- Psalm 72, which is “of Solomon,” reads like a king expressing his desires for the person who will succeed him on the throne.

Ephesians 3:1 - 12

 1 This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--  2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, 3 and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4 a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.  5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

 7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power.  8 Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10 so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

- Ephesians does not seem to address the Epiphany (or manifestation) of Christ but the inclusion of the Gentiles within the body of Christ.

- Ephesians 3 makes several references to “mystery.”  Culturally, we do not handle mystery well.  We want to know the answer.  When confronted with a mystery, we treat it as a problem to solve.  In this case, the answer is something to be revealed to us.

Matthew 2:1 - 12

 1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."  3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.  5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

 6 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

 7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage."  9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.  10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.  11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

- Does the fact that King Herod is unaware of Jesus’ birth reveal the bubble he existed within?  After all, I doubt that the shepherds only spoke of his birth on that first night; they likely shared the news with others, who likely told others… But Herod first hears of Jesus’ birth from these foreign travelers.  (Think “Nobody I know voted for (President Richard Nixon)!”)

- Matthew 2:13 – 18 tells the rest of the story.  An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, commanding him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod (this is the basis for calling Jesus a “refugee”).  Herod realizes that the Wise Men are not going to return to him and share Jesus’ location, so he decrees that all male children in Bethlehem under the age of 2 should be killed to protect his power.  (This is what the Church  commemorates on December 28th with “Holy Innocents.”)

- Is this how we react to change, to “threats” to our traditions and preferences?  Do we attempt to hunt down and destroy anything that may force us to question what we have always believed and what we have always done?

Wednesday Thoughts on the Readings for Sunday, December 16th, 2018

This Sunday will be the third Sunday of Advent.  Traditionally, the theme of the day is Joy.  Some of the messages from John the Baptist may not reflect this theme, but ultimately the announcement from John is something to celebrate.  Zephaniah also announces news worth celebrating after several proclamations of doom and gloom.  Meanwhile, both Isaiah and Paul's letter to the Philippians invite us to rejoice and celebrate what the Lord has done for the Lord's people.

My other thoughts on these readings can be found below in the italicized text.  If you would like to discuss or debate what I have written, or if you would like to share your own opinions and questions, I invite you to write in the comments below.  I pledge to respond to all comments.

Zephaniah 3:14 - 20

 14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

 15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.

 16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.

 17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing

 18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.

 19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.

 20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

- The entirety of Zephaniah reads like a shorter version of Isaiah 13 – 23, which is a series of woe oracles against Israel and the surrounding nations.  Here in Zephaniah, the Lord declares a punishment against Jerusalem and Israel because the people have worshipped foreign gods.  The Lord also declares a punishment against the nations that mock Israel during its suffering.  The mood changes at the end of Zephaniah: the Lord will gather together the faithful remnant of Israel, re-establish the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel, and defeat the nations that are oppressing the Israelites.

- Zephaniah may be one of the reasons why many Jews rejected Jesus.  Zephaniah tells of the Lord arriving in the city as a warrior, perhaps a warrior king.  This was paired with the saving of the lame and the gathering of the outcast, which were hallmarks of the ministry of Jesus.  Therefore, the people may have connected his miracles to Zephaniah and expected that Jesus was the promised warrior king.

Isaiah 12:2 - 6

 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.

 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

 4 And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.

 5 Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth.

 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

- It’s interesting that we cut verse 1 out of Isaiah 12: “You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me.”  (Isa 12:1 NRS)

- We are quick to read “the Holy One of Israel” in Isaiah 12:6 as Jesus.  But what/whom did the Israelites at the time of the exile identify as “the Holy One of Israel.”

Philippians 4:4 - 7

 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.  6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

- Back when Advent was a penitential season similar to Lent, the third Sunday of Advent was the one Sunday in the season during which the mood was playful and joyful.  The pink/rose candle in the Advent wreath represents this day to “rejoice.”

Luke 3:7 - 18

 7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.  9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

 10 And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"  11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."  12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"  13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."  14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."

 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

 18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

- The empire asked tax collectors to collect a prescribed amount of taxes from an area.  It was common for tax collectors to charge even higher amounts from the citizens within their zone of responsibility; these additional taxes became the tax collector’s salary.

- It was also common for military members to force non-Roman citizens to carry equipment, weapons, and other items for a mile so that the soldier could rest.  It appears that these military members have also been intimidating local citizens until the citizens paid a “protection fee.”

- We immediately understand the tree about to be cut down as representing one person.  But what if we read it as representing one nation, instead?

- While the wheat (the good) and the chaff (the bad) are separated on the threshing floor, each grain of wheat originally comes with chaff around the grain of wheat.  We tend to read this as the good people go to heaven and the bad people go to hell, but what if this is more like purification?  Each of us is “threshed” until our chaff is separated from us and tossed away/into the fire.

Monday Thoughts on the Readings for Sunday, December 9th, 2018

On this second Sunday of Advent, our readings focus on John the Baptist.  Our first reading is the prophecy from Malachi that a messenger will come to prepare the way of the Lord.  Our psalm reading is replaced by the Song of Zechariah, John's father.  And our Gospel reading is the first portion of the Luke's first story of John's public ministry.

So, how does John help us prepare for the arrival of Christ?  That is a question to ponder this week as we prepare for worship on Sunday.

You can find my initial reactions to these readings in the italicized text below.  I invite you to share your insights, questions, and reactions in the comment section below so that we can continue to discuss these readings.


Malachi 3:1 - 4

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight-- indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.  2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.  4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.


- “Malachi” means “my messenger.”

- Malachi declares that a messenger is on the way.  This is not just any messenger, but a “messenger of the covenant.”  This messenger will have a connection to the promises the Lord has made to the people of Israel.

- This messenger will be a purifier of the Levites.  This makes it a bit awkward to read through a Christological lens.  After all, weren’t the Levites opposed to Jesus and his ministry?  But if we view Christ on the cross as a sacrifice for our atonement (meaning that which restores the relationship between the Lord and us), then the role of the Levites falls into place; they are purified to offer the one great sacrifice.

- That being said, how would this message make sense without Christ?  How was it understood by the first people to receive it?

Luke 1:68 - 79

 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.

 69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David,

 70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

 71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.

 72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant,

 73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us

 74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,

 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.

 78 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,

 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

- Luke 1 tells the story of the birth of John the Baptist.  An angel appears to Zechariah as he was in the Temple offering a sacrifice of incense.  The angel reveals that Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son, and they are to name the child John.  To this point, Zechariah and Elizabeth have not been able to have children, and they are getting older, likely older than most people would expect them to give birth to children.  So Zechariah asks how he may trust the message.  The angel responds by taking away Zechariah’s voice until the child is born.  Months later, Elizabeth gives birth to a son.  On the day of his naming, the people want to name the child Zechariah, but Elizabeth and Zechariah insist that his name is John.  At this moment, Zechariah regains his voice, and this song recorded in Luke 1:68 – 79 is what pours out of his mouth.

- When the song changes from a general blessing to a direct address to “you, child,” we can picture Zechariah holding John in his arms and sharing the proclamation Zechariah received from the angel.

Philippians 1:3 - 11

 3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.  6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.  7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.  8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.  9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

- One can read Philippians 1:3 – 11 and believe that this is a call to good works because the Lord will only save those who produce “the harvest of righteousness.”  However, this reading would ignore the earlier statement from Paul in which he expresses confidence “that the one who began a good work among you (ed. ~ “you” is plural) will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”  The harvest of righteousness comes not from our desire and effort to do good works; the harvest of righteousness comes from the Lord’s work within us, planting the seed of faith and helping that seed sprout and grow.

- The references to the “day of Christ” look ahead to the end of the age when Christ will arrive on the Earth, resurrect us from the dead, and bring us into the Kingdom of God.

Luke 3:1 - 6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.  3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

'Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight.

 5 Every valley shall be filled,

and every mountain and hill shall be made low,

and the crooked shall be made straight,

and the rough ways made smooth;

 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

- In Luke 3, John is undertaking the calling that was given to him even before his birth.

- “…and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”  This is not in the original proclamation from Isaiah 40:3 – 5.  There, the proclamation concludes by saying “Then the glory of God shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”  Perhaps this includes another proclamation from Isaiah, this time 52:10: “The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”  Either way, there is a connection between “the glory of the Lord” and “the salvation of God” who comes to Earth and gives his life for us.”

- Look at all these great names, and yet the word of the Lord comes to John son of Zechariah.  What does this tell us about who is worthy to be the messenger of God?