Author Archives: Robin Garr

Epiphany 5A

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Feb. 5, 2017

The Sermon On the Mount

The Sermon On the Mount (1877). Oil painting on copper by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890), Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark.

First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-12

If we are to follow in God’s way, we are called to be righteous, to practice justice; to be light to the world and the salt that flavors and preserves our lives. These are the themes that echo through Sunday’s readings, from Isaiah’s resounding shout to the people as they return from exile to a demolished Jerusalem, to Jesus as he continues instructing the people in his Sermon on the Mount. Isaiah insists, as Jesus will, that we go beyond personal fasting and ritual to take a stand, fighting against oppression, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, clothing the naked. Righteousness heals our souls and lights up our lives, restoring the world as Israel restored the glory that was Zion.

Psalm 112:1-10

Let’s take care not to read the “Prosperity Gospel” into today’s Psalm, which is an ancient worship hymn that imagines God rewarding the righteous with earthly power and riches in exchange for their good acts. Rather than counting on rewards of wealth and riches for behaving well, though, perhaps we could focus on the results of righteousness itself: When we care for the poor and the oppressed, when we act generously and show justice, we “rise in the darkness as a light for the upright.” By living justly, we become an example for others and show the way to God.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

We continue our journey through the opening chapters of 1 Corinthians, listening in as Paul offers pastoral guidance for the quarreling community. He turns their thoughts toward humility, reiterating the advice that, even if following the crucified Jesus may make us appear “foolish” to the world, in fact we share God’s secret wisdom, the Holy Spirit gives us new life through Christ.

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20

We continue with the Sermon on the Mount. Having taught the Beatitudes to the crowd, Jesus now tells them that they, God’s people, are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. With this gift, however, comes the responsibility to show God to the world through our good works. Jesus has not come, he says, to change “the Law and the Prophets,” the ancient teaching that we now know as the Old Testament. Rather, in fulfilling the law that directs us to love God and our neighbors, Jesus calls on us to be more righteous than the Scribes and the Pharisees – groups of Temple leaders, who, in fact, often earned Jesus’ criticism for their own failure of righteousness.

Epiphany 4A

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Jan. 29, 2017

Jesus Proclaiming the Beatitudes.

Jesus Proclaiming the Beatitudes. Mural, 1912, in St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Savannah, Georgia.

First Reading: Micah 6:1-8

How does God want us to live? Our Sunday readings speak to us clearly about how we are called to walk in God’s way and to follow Jesus. The beloved verse from the prophet Micah tells us to respond to God’s love by sharing it with others, simply by doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God. Micah, as prophets do, warns that we stand before God as a defendant in a trial, pleading our case to a divine Judge who “has a controversy with us.” God has done so much for us. How are we to respond? It’s not burnt offerings and sacrifices but our good actions for others that count.

Psalm 15

Who among us can claim the high honor of living in God’s sanctuary? The Psalmist’s instructions bear a marked resemblance to Micah’s prophecy: Those who do right, speak truth, don’t slander or reproach and do no evil may dwell in God’s tabernacle and abide on God’s holy hill. Honesty, kindness, and love of neighbor all make a difference. The way we live matters to God.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Continuing his stern lecture to his congregation at Corinth, Paul reminds us that Jesus’ death on the Roman cross – a gory, horrifically painful execution that Rome reserved for the worst criminals – is “foolishness” to those who don’t understand, but it shows believers God’s power to save, even from death. Paul tells us that God chose this way to celebrate the weak, the poor and the despised and to shame the powerful and the strong through Jesus, who gives us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

The Beatitudes, the beloved verses in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, have become so familiar that we sometimes don’t pause to give them the deep reflection that they deserve. In eight quick statements, Jesus turns the world upside down: It is not the rich who are blessed, but the poor. It is not the successful and the proud who win God’s blessing, but mourners, the meek, the hungry; the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the oppressed. This is good news for the poor, and it is earth-shattering. It is also a theme that Jesus repeats again and again until it is difficult to understand why we have such a hard time getting it.

Epiphany 3A

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Jan. 22, 2017

The Prophet Isaiah.

The Prophet Isaiah. Painting by Antonio Balestra (1666-1740). Museo di Castelvecchio, Verona, Italy.

First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-4

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” As we live through the darkest season, the shortest days of the year, we can feel the joy that gracious light brings in the darkness, a joy that Isaiah and Matthew share in Sunday’s readings. Isaiah recalls the hard time when Israel’s Northern Kingdom, the lands of Zebulon and Naphtali that Jesus will later know as Galilee, have fallen to the Assyrian Empire, and the nation’s fate is in doubt. Isaiah prophecies that the future holds no gloom for those who are in anguish now: God will bring the people back to a world of bounty and joy.

Psalm 27:1, 5-13

In words that mirror both the ideas and the emotions of our Isaiah reading, the Psalmist shouts with triumphant confidence that God is indeed our light. There is no denying that bad things can happen even to God’s own people. Enemies may surround them. But knowing that God is our light and our salvation, we know that we have nothing to fear. God will hear us, love us, protect us and keep us safe.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Following up on Paul’s assurance last week that the people of the church in Corinth had already received gifts that made them strong in faith, we now see that this small, troubled community was breaking into factions and quarreling. Remember to stand steadfast in faith, Paul reminds them, even when their Gentile neighbors consider them foolish for worshiping a crucified criminal. Baptism brings all together in unity in Christ. The cross saves us through God’s power.

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23

The public ministry of Jesus begins. Grieving the murder of his cousin John, Jesus steps up, starting to gather crowds and preach as John had done, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew, who often reaches back to the Old Testament to find texts that can be interpreted to show Jesus fulfilling Messianic prophecy, lifts up the Isaiah reading that we hear today. Then Jesus calls four fishermen who eagerly drop their nets and follow as he preaches, teaches, cures and heals, leaving old Zebedee behind to mend their nets and tend the abandoned boat.

Epiphany 2A

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Jan. 15, 2017

The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew

The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew. Painting (1308-1311) by Duccio Di Buoninsegna. National Gallery, Washington, D.C.

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7

Today we hear another account of the baptism of Jesus, this one from the Gospel according to John. We build toward it in our first three readings, each offering us a different perspective on waiting with faith and hope for God. Our first reading echoes last week’s Isaiah passage, presenting another of the prophet’s descriptions of the Suffering Servant, God’s savior who would lead the people back to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon. Once despised, the servant will rise up, bringing God’s saving power not to Israel and Judah alone but to all the nations, to the ends of the Earth.

Psalm 40:1-12

Like the people in Isaiah waiting in exile for their servant savior to come, the Psalmist waits patiently and with deep trust and faith for God to act. Though he was once left desolate in mire and clay, alone in a pit, God has now placed him on a new, secure footing and given him a new song of praise. We mustn’t trust in evil spirits or false gods, the Psalm reminds us, but find our joy in trusting God, against whom none other can be compared. God requires no sacrifices or burnt offerings, but responds to our faith with compassion and love.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul sets the tone for his first letter to the church at Corinth in these introductory verses, a friendly greeting that offers insight into all that follows. The congregation in Corinth was a small and troubled community, divided into quarreling factions, each with its own ideas about Christian practice and which leader to follow. Paul begins by reminding them that they are joined with all Christians who call on the name of Jesus as Lord. Through this faith they have already received gifts that have made them strong, Paul says. He urges them to hold on to those gifts and be steadfast as they wait for Christ’s coming, an event that many in those days thought would happen soon.

Gospel: John 1:29-42

Listen closely as we hear today’s Gospel, quite a different perspective on Jesus’ baptism than we heard from Matthew last week. This time, John the Baptist sees Jesus coming, immediately declares him “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” and tells the crowd that Jesus came before him and ranks ahead of him. Then it is John the Baptist, not Jesus or the crowd, who tells of seeing the Spirit coming down like a dove and remaning on Jesus, revealing him as the one who would baptize not with water but with the Spirit: The Son of God. Did John actually baptize Jesus in the midst of all this? The Gospel doesn’t say. But Jesus’ first disciples, seeing this encounter, recognize Jesus as Messiah and start to follow him.

Epiphany 1A/Baptism of our Lord

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Jan. 8, 2017

The Baptism of Christ

The Baptism of Christ, 1475. Oil painting on wood by Andrea del Verrocchio with his student, Leonardo da Vinci. Uffizi Gallery, Florence.

First Reading, Selection I: Isaiah 42:1-9

In light and breath, God’s spirit comes down to the people. Justice and righteousness are served, the oppressed are set free, and all is new. In the prophet Isaiah’s call to Israel in exile we see a vision that will be reflected on Jordan’s bank at the baptism of Jesus in today’s Gospel. Even in exile, the prophet tells the people, the God who created all things will take the people by the hand as God’s servant, sending them out as we are sent out in baptism, to be a light to the world and bring righteousness to all the nations.

Psalm 29

Have you ever sat on a porch with a mixture of fear and awe, watching a fierce summer thunderstorm pass by with lightning and thunder, wind and rain, whipping the trees around and whistling through the branches? Even towering oak trees seem to whirl, and large limbs come crashing down. It’s no wonder that the Psalmist chose to portray God’s power and glory in a massive storm that strips the forest bare. And yet, at the end, the people shout “Glory,” hailing God’s power and peace.

Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43

Peter quickly tells the good news of Jesus, starting with his baptism by John when God anointed Jesus through the Holy Spirit with power. Then he briskly recalls how Jesus healed and cast out spirits, was executed on the cross and raised again, and finally commanded his disciples to preach and testify that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Messiah. The verses we hear today gain context from those that come just before and after: At the invitation of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, Peter comes to his house and first begins to evangelize to Gentiles. After this speech, Peter and the apostles baptize Cornelius and all his household, the first Gentile family brought into the new church.

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

All four Gospels show us the familiar scene of John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan, with the Holy Spirit coming down as a dove to declare Jesus the son of God. Only in Matthew, however, do we hear what seems an obvious question: Why would Jesus need to repent or be baptized? Jesus should be baptizing John, not the other way around, John declares. But Jesus insists, asking John to baptize him “to fulfill all righteousness,” echoing Isaiah’s call to go out in righteousness to be a light to the world and bring justice to all the nations.

The Holy Name

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Jan. 1, 2017

Moses directing Aaron

Moses directing Aaron. Sixteenth century Flemish tapestry attributed to Pieter Coecke. DeYoung Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museums, San Francisco.

First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27

What’s in a name? What’s in the name of God? Today’s readings consider this thought-provoking question. In our short first reading, the Israelites have been camped at the foot of Mount Sinai for some time, but now they are ready to move on toward the Promised Land. God speaks through Moses, uttering a blessing so gracious that it is often used to this day. It also shows a turn in God’s relationship with the people. No longer is the sight of God’s face so fearsome that no one can look upon it and live. Now, having God’s face shine upon us is a blessing; and as an ultimate gift to the people, they are given God’s name as their own, creating an intimate connection with the divine.

Psalm 8

The Name of God, given to the Israelites at Sinai, is exalted in today’s psalm of praise. We look with awe on the majesty of God’s creation, the moon and stars; the world and all that is in it, and all humankind, just a little lower than the angels. We give praise and thanksgiving for all this, remembering that we are charged with dominion over God’s earthly creation. This dominion calls us not to pillage but to preserve and protect the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea. Over it all we exalt the Name of God, our Creator who made it all.

Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

God sent his own son, born of a woman in full humanity, born under the Torah, to redeem those under Jewish law and tradition. But that is not the end of the story. Continuing an argument that he pursues throughout Galatians, Paul assures the Gentile members of this young church in Galatia in Asia Minor – what is now Turkey – that they are adopted as children of God. God sends the Spirit into their heart through Jesus so that they are no longer slaves but children and thus heirs. The way of Jesus is open to all who follow him.

Second Reading (Alternate): Philippians 2:5-11

Can you hear the gentle beat of poetry in these beautiful words from Paul to the Philippians in Greece? Scholars believe that Paul may be quoting here an ancient hymn of the early church. Its theology is deep and continues relevant, too: Although Jesus was truly God as well as truly human, he chose to “empty himself,” taking on the full weight of his suffering without divine foreknowledge; accepting the pain of crucifixion with human fragility and weakness. In taking on the full weight of all that suffering, Jesus showed us the true exaltation of God’s love, calling us only to respond with love for God and our neighbor.

Gospel: Luke 2:15-21

We return briefly to Bethlehem and the manger, where the shepherds have come down to find Mary and Joseph and the child and to tell them the amazing things that they had heard from the angels. Mary “treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart,” surely wondering where all these remarkable things might lead. And then, eight days later, they prepare to take Jesus to be circumcised, one of the most important requirements of Jewish law; and Mary names the child Jesus, just as the Angel Gabriel had told her.

Christmas Day I, II, and III

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Dec. 25, 2016
(Readings for Lectionary Selections I, II, and III)

Adoration of the shepherds

Adoration of the shepherds (1622). Oil on canvas by Gerard van Honthorst (1590–1656), Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne, Germany. (Wikimedia Commons)
(Click or tap image to view larger version)

First Reading, Selection I: Isaiah 9:2-7

Christmas is here! We see a great light and sing a new song as we behold with joy in the city of David the birth of a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. In our first reading, from the early chapters of Isaiah, in words that the composer Handel will borrow for “The Messiah,” the prophet foretells a glorious future when the oppressor’s yoke will broken and a child will be born for us, a son given to us, a Wonderful Counsellor to take the throne of David: Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. .

First Reading, Selection II: Isaiah 62:6-12

In this first reading, the exile is ending. Through the power of God’s strong right hand and mighty arm, the people will return to Jerusalem. Prepare the way, build up the highway toward home and clear it of stones: No longer shall enemies harvest Zion’s grain and drink its wine; a glorious future of redemption and salvation that will last until the end of time.

First Reading, Selection III: Isaiah 52:7-10

Israel’s exile in Babylon is ending, and God’s messenger brings good news of peace and salvation as God leads the people back to Zion, the temple on the mountain, Jerusalem. Even the ruins of the devastated city are called to break into song. Such is the joy of God’s return to the holy city! God reigns, the people are comforted, and all the nations shall see the power of God’s holy arm and the salvation that it brings.

Psalm, Selection I: Psalm 96

All the earth sings a new song, blessing God’s name in this joyous Psalm of praise There is fascinating theology here, ideas that we may see reflected in the New Testament: We are called to proclaim the good news of God’s salvation; we are to go out and declare God’s glory, a great commission to show God’s majesty to all the nations. The whole earth, the heavens, the seas, the forests and all that is in them rejoice before our God.

Psalm, Selection II: Psalm 97

God is king, and all creation rejoices. This Psalm praises God in an image of power and might that echoes the fearsome God who led the Israelites through the desert and protected them there, surrounded by clouds, lightning and fire. This is a God over all other gods, over all other nations, but also a God who loves the righteous, provides light for them, and cares for those who live justly.

Psalm, Selection III: Psalm 98

Again we are called to stand up and rejoice in a Psalm of praise that is full of joyous music, harp, trumpets and horn. We sing a new song of praise for the victory won by God’s mighty right hand and holy arm. All the nations, not only Israel, shout with joy. Even the sea, the land, the rivers and the hills will rejoice when God comes to judge all the world with righteousness and equity. Lift up your voice! Rejoice and sing!

Second Reading, Selection I: Titus 2:11-14

Here’s a Bible Trivia fact! Titus is the only book of the New Testament that does not appear in the regular three-year Lectionary of Sunday service readings. We hear it only on Christmas. Much of Titus’ short letter is spent warning the people of Crete to rein in their sinful behavior, an argument that leads to a worthy conclusion: We should live well and renounce bad actions as we wait for the grace of God through Jesus Christ, who gave himself to redeem us and make us God’s people.

Second Reading, Selection II: Titus 3:4-7

Titus emphasizes that Jesus is God, our savior, the perfect manifestation of goodness and loving-kindness. Jesus saved us not because of any good that we had done, but entirely because he is merciful, giving us God’s grace through baptism by water and the Holy Spirit. Justified by God’s grace, we become heirs to eternal life through Jesus.

Second Reading, Selection III: Hebrews 1:1-4,(5-12)

The letter to the Hebrews begins with a beautifully poetic description of Jesus, chosen as the son of God, the perfect reflection of God’s glory, higher even than the angels. Indeed, when Jesus was born into the world, multitudes of angels appeared in the heavens to worship him. Because Jesus loved righteousness and hated wickedness, his throne is for ever and ever, and God speaks to us no longer through the prophets but through him.

Gospel: Luke 2:1-14(15-20), Selection I; and Luke 2:(1-7)8-20, Selection II

And now we come to the familiar story of Jesus’ birth. Today we read the nativity according to Luke. This is the Gospel that gives us the memorable stories of Mary giving birth, wrapping the child in swaddling clothes and laying him in a manger in Bethlehem – the City of David – because there was no room in the inn. Here we have the beautiful scene of baby Jesus and his parents suddenly surrounded by shepherds and their flocks, while angels sing gloriously overhead while the Lord’s angel tells them that the baby is a Savior and the Messiah.

Gospel, Selection III: John 1:1-14

No, there is no nativity story in this Christmas Gospel. Luke and Matthew, each in his own way, give us the familiar story of the newborn baby born in Bethlehem. But John introduces us to Jesus in a completely different way: It’s poetic and spiritual instead, celebrating the unimaginable glory of God’s own word becoming flesh and living among us, lighting up the world. The Word that was in the beginning with God, when God said, “Let there be light” and there was light, is now, will be, and in God’s time always has been, incarnate as human flesh, Jesus, Messiah, God with us.

Advent 4A

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Dec. 18, 2016

The Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel

The Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel (1308-1311) tempera on single poplar panel by Duccio di Buoninsegna. Andrew W. Mellon Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16

In living through the four weeks of Advent, we deepen our appreciation for the coming of the Messiah, the Incarnation of God becoming fully human and fully divine in Jesus. Today’s readings conclude Advent with eager anticipation for the coming of God’s kingdom through the line of King David. The Prophet Isaiah tells of God warning David’s descendant, King Ahaz, that his land will soon be conquered, but that a child named Immanuel – “God With Us” – will be born to a young woman and will eventually bring good in place of evil.

Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

Today’s Psalm, too, remembers the shame and disappointment of being conquered. It calls on God in a voice of lament, asking to be spared the divine anger that has left the people with “bowls of tears to drink” as their enemies laugh them to scorn. Send a man of God’s right hand, the strong son of man, they beg, promising never again to turn from God’s way if only God will save them.

Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7

Paul gets directly to the point as he begins his letter to this congregation that he has not yet met: He is an apostle of Jesus, called to that ministry; Jesus is the son of God, the descendant of David whom the prophets had foretold; and through his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of God. Then he assures his mostly Gentile audience that he comes to them in Jesus’ name. They, too, are God’s beloved. Then, only after these important assurances, does he come back to a proper formal greeting: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

Christmas is drawing near! Today we hear Matthew’s version of the events leading up to Jesus’ birth. While Luke’s Nativity, the other familiar Christmas Gospel, tells the story from the viewpoint of Mary and her relatives, Matthew gives us Joseph’s point of view. How do you suppose a man of this patriarchal Near Eastern culture might react, learning that his young fiancee is pregnant but not with his child? Joseph prefers to end the engagement quietly, without scandal or gossip. But then an angel comes to assure Joseph that Mary is bearing God’s son, in words almost mirroring the Isaiah prophecy: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.” (The Hebrew word translated as “young woman” in Isaiah now reappears in the New Testament as “virgin” in Greek.)

Advent 3A

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Dec. 11, 2016

John the Baptist in Prison.

ca. 1850 — An illustration from a mid-19th century copy of Grand Catechisme des Familles (Christian Doctrine for Families). — Image by © Stefano Bianchetti/Corbis

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10

When the Messiah comes, when the Kingdom draws near, those days of glory will be filled with righteousness and justice, joy and abundance, and healing and good news for the poor. This is the message that we hear today, the third Sunday of Advent. This Sunday, historically called Gaudete (“Rejoice”) Sunday, shifts focus from quiet expectation toward anticipatory joy, a change in tone that many like to mark by wearing something pink to church on this day. Our first reading offers Isaiah’s vision of the return from exile, a homeward journey when the desert itself shall rejoice and blossom with joy and singing as the weak become strong.

Psalm 146:4-9

This is the third time this year that we hear part of Psalm 146, “Praise the Lord, O My Soul.” This resounding hymn of praise fits well on the Third Sunday of Advent with its beautiful poetry of praise for our Creator, the God eternal who made heaven, earth, the seas and all that is in them. Its words of promise seem to foreshadow the Song of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as well as Jesus’ own promise to feed the hungry, give sight to the blind, set prisoners free and bring good news to the poor.

Canticle 15 (Luke 1:46-55, The Song of Mary – Magnificat)

Tradition has come to show us Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a sweet, submissive figure. But this image is a far cry from the brave Palestinian teen-ager that we see in Luke’s Gospel when she first feels the baby Jesus moving within her. Thanking God for this gift, she shouts a song of God’s righteousness and justice, a theme that unites the message of Torah and the message of Jesus: God has “scattered the proud … brought down the powerful … lifted up the lowly … filled the hungry with good things … and sent the rich away empty.”

Second Reading: James 5:7-10

Doesn’t “Be patient, therefore,” seem a strange way to begin a reading? It almost compels us to page back and see what led up to it. Indeed, the preceding verses show us James (who traditionally is understood as the brother of Jesus) sounding very much like Jesus’ mother, Mary, and like Jesus himself. In those verses James, in words much like Mary’s Magnificat and Jesus’ first sermon, warns that the selfish rich will weep and wail in misery because they laid up treasure by defrauding the workers who tilled their fields. Then, in the short verses that we hear today, James urges a different way: Love and be generous with each other, while we wait for the Lord’s coming.

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

As we move through Matthew’s Gospel in this new Lectionary year, we will hear frequent reminders that Jesus is Messiah, the lord and savior that the prophets foretold. Today we hear a conversation between Jesus and messengers from John the Baptist in prison, asking outright whether Jesus is the Messiah or if they must wait for another. Then Jesus sets out his priorities, which echo Isaiah’s prophecies and his mother’s song: “… the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”

Advent 2A

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Dec. 4, 2016

John the Baptist Preaching in the Wilderness

John the Baptist Preaching in the Wilderness, oil painting on canvas by Anton Raphael Mengs, 1760s. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10

Repent! We hear an Advent call to repent and await the Messiah in our readings this week. Don’t think of “repent” in its modern definition of deep regret and remorse, though. Hear it rather in its ancient sense as “change one’s mind” in New Testament Greek, or “turn back” in Old Testament Hebrew. If we are on the wrong path in our relationships with God and our neighbors, now is the time to turn back and watch for the light of God’s Kingdom. Isaiah envisions a time when the Messiah, the descendant of King David (whose father was named Jesse), will reign from Zion’s Holy Mountain, where justice will prevail for the poor and the meek.

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

The Psalmist seems to draw from the same wellsprings as Isaiah in this hymn that may have been composed in memory of the crowning of King Solomon. We call for a just and righteous king who will rule fairly. We call for a king who will bring prosperity to all the people; a king who will take special care to provide for the poor and the oppressed; a king who will reign as long as showers water the earth; a king who will bring peace on earth as long as the moon shines. This is a Messiah devoutly to be wished.

Second Reading: Romans 15:4-13

Paul wrote his letter at a time when all of Rome’s Jews, who had been banished to exile for a decade by the Emperor Claudius, were finally able to come back home after the emperor died. There was tension in the young church as returning Jewish Christians rejoined Christian communities that had become entirely Gentile. Paul devots much of the letter assuring both communities that they are all one in Christ. In today’s reading he cites the prophets, including Isaiah’s Root of Jesse, as foretelling Christ as the king of all humanity, the hope of Jew and Gentile alike.

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

Today we meet John, the cousin of Jesus, now an adult and – as his father, the temple priest Zechariah, had foreseen – a great prophet in the spirit of Isaiah and Jeremiah. John is a loud, angry prophet indeed, dressed in camel’s hair and eating locusts and honey, calling on the people to be baptized in the Jordan river as a sign of their repentance from sin. In these verses, indeed, John invokes Isaiah to declare himself the prophet who would cry out in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord, a Messiah who will throw away the old traditions, baptizing not with mere water but the fire of the Holy Spirit.