Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Aug. 8, 2021
First Reading (Track One): 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
“Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will.” We’ll see this theme of Sunday’s Collect reflected in the week’s readings.
Death of Absalom (1753-1762), tapestry by Corrado Giaquinto (1703-1766). Palacio de Aranjuez, Madrid. (Click image to enlarge.)
In our Track One first reading, the child born of David’s rape of Bathsheba has died as the prophet Nathan foretold. Now we learn of the death of another of David’s sons, Absalom. Absalom had killed his half-brother, Amnon, for raping their sister, Tamar; then Absalom went to war against his father, seeking to wrest away Israel’s throne. David’s soldiers find Absalom trapped in a tree, and kill him despite David’s command to deal with him gently. Despite his son’s rebellion, David grieves him deeply. “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
First Reading (Track Two): 1 Kings 19:4-8
When we are in trouble and despair, God provides us the physical and spiritual sustenance of the bread of life. This ongoing theme continues through Sunday’s Track Two Lectionary readings. In our first reading we find the Prophet Elijah torn by depression and fear. He has escaped the murderous anger of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who had threatened to kill him. But now, alone in the stark wilderness and deeply depressed, he lies down under a broom tree and asks God to let him die. Instead, though, God sends an angel to tempt Elijah with hot cakes and water and loving support. This restores Elijah’s strength, and he resumes his prophesying.
Psalm (Track One): Psalm 130
We often hear this Psalm of faithful hope in God in our Lectionary readings. In fact, it has been only a few weeks since we read it on the last Sunday in June! In the context of different readings, though, we may understand its verses in new and different ways. On June 27 we heard it alongside David’s grief at the death of his friend, Jonathan. Now we sing it in harmony with David’s grief over his son Absalom. God’s love and grace wait for us even when we are deep in grief, the Psalmist reminds us. We wait for God, just as in night’s darkest hours we wait for morning light.
Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 34:1-8
Our Track Two Psalm will present Psalm 34 in three parts this Sunday through August 22. Tradition holds that David himself sang this Psalm after he had narrowly escaped death at the hands of King Abimelech of the Philistines. Appropriately, it is a song of praise and thanksgiving for God’s protection in time of trouble. In an unusual sensory metaphor that has been adopted in a contemplative Taizé chant, we “taste and see” that God is good.
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:25-5:2
“Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” This passage from the letter to the people of Ephesus still speaks good sense in modern times: Tell the truth. If you’re angry with your neighbor, work it out; don’t let anger divide you. Don’t steal. Work honestly, and share with those in need. Be honest, but be positive. Be gracious. Forgive one another. And at the end of the day, love each other as Jesus loves us, and try to live as Jesus would have us live.
Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51
The beloved verse that concluded last week’s Gospel is repeated as the first verse this week: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” These words describe our hope in the Eucharist so clearly that we often sing them in the Fraction Anthem before Communion. Here, though, the crowd following Jesus starts to push back. They know Jesus. They know his parents. They watched him grow up. Who is he to be talking like this? But Jesus stands firm, and will continue to do so as we continue through John’s extended exposition of Jesus as manna, the bread of life, for the next three Sundays.