Christ the King B

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012.

Christ the KingFirst Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
It might seem a little strange to us as Americans, remembering our 1776 revolution against the British king, to view our God as monarch and Jesus as warrior king. Yet we do so today as we look to the culmination of history and Christ as king. Daniel portrays a mighty God of flame on a fiery throne. Many modern Christians might prefer to visualize a transcendent Creator whose very nature lies beyond our ability to imagine. For early Christians living in a time of empire, though, it must have been reassuring to imagine an all-powerful God giving dominion over all nations and peoples to “one like a human being,” who they would identify as Christ.

Psalm 93
God is king! God is majestic! God is powerful! How this mighty hymn must have thundered through the ancient temple, celebrating the power and the kingship of God in metaphors of sound and fury: Roaring floods and massive ocean waves thundering, calling out the glory of God our king. When we chant this psalm today, sing out in a mighty chorus!

Second Reading: Revelation 1:4b-8
There has been a lot of talk about End Times lately, including the popular “Left Behind” stories, and pop-culture talk of the Mayan Calendar wrapping things up for us all next month. The book of Revelation, originally written as a subversive sermon against ancient Rome and its pagan emperors, actually carries a hint of more rational hope amid the kingly metaphors: God our King, who was with us at the beginning and will be with us at the end, loves us and frees us from our sins through Christ.

Gospel: John 18:33-37
Finally, in John’s Gospel, Jesus makes his kingship clear. Or does he? Accused of declaring himself king of the Jews, an act of treason against the powerful Roman Empire, Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world. Is he a king? “You say so,” Jesus replies. But is his kingdom of this world or the next? That’s not so clear. Will God’s kingdom come in the future with trumpet blasts and fire and brimstone? Or do we build it every day when we act as Christ’s hands in the world?

Pentecost 25B

em>Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012.

Hannah and Samuel

Hannah and Samuel

First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:4-20
Today we hear of Hannah, who is anguished and suffers verbal abuse because she can’t bear a child. She opens her heart in prayer … and discovers that God is with us in times of trouble and pain. Her prayers are answered. She finds joy, and later gives birth to Samuel, who will become a prophet and the last of the great judges who preceded the kings of Israel. When our lives are filled with “great anxiety and vexation,” let’s remember to look for God.

1 Samuel 2:1-10
In place of our usual psalm today we sing the prayer of Hannah, who celebrates her joy at the birth of her child in words that we will hear reflected in the New Testament in Mary’s song, the Magnificat. Both prayers sing of God lifting up the lowly and the poor while casting down the rich and powerful, but Mary doesn’t echo the words of vengeance that we hear in Hannah’s song. When we enjoy God’s blessings after suffering conflict in our lives, let’s try to model Mary’s grace in victory.

Second Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14
Today’s lesson from Hebrews continues to celebrate Christ’s priesthood and Christ’s sacrifice as superior to the sacrifices of the old priests in the Temple of Jerusalem, whose sacrifices “can never take away sins.” Most New Testament scholars agree that the author of Hebrews is trying lure back Jewish Christians who had returned to Judaism to escape persecution. Still, it’s hard to envision Christ as waiting for his enemies to “be a footstool for his feet.” Would you rather think of Jesus in this way, or as gentle Good Shepherd, when you pray?

Gospel: Mark 13:1-8
Jesus’s words about wars, earthquakes and famines in today’s Gospel give us a taste of the apocalyptic prophecies that will draw our attention through Advent next month. Today, Mark tells of Jesus in Jerusalem on his final journey toward the cross. He foretells the destruction of the Temple, a prophecy that will soon be held against him before the high priest. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s incarnation, we remember his death and resurrection.

Pentecost 24B

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012.

Elijah and the WidowFirst Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16
It is fascinating that today’s lessons begin with a poor widow who answers a difficult call, and end with a similar story from Mark. Here, Elijah is hungry and thirsty, and God commands him to go to a poor widow who is a foreigner, not an Israelite – a directive that must have seemed strange. God commands the widow to feed Elijah, but she can’t understand, either. She has nothing but crumbs. There is a famine, and her son is dying. But they all trust in God, and a miracle follows. Her bit of oil and meal prove enough to feed everyone and to last until the drought ends. How will we respond when we have so little, yet God calls us to give so much?

Psalm 146
This opens the final quartet of Psalms, ending the book with ringing hymns of praise. It exults: “Praise God, O my soul!” But it also offers us quiet advice, as Americans conclude the messy business of electing our president. It’s fine to work within the system, and to celebrate if your candidate won. But the psalmist reminds us not to put all our trust in mortal princes … not even presidents. It’s God who will raise us up, God who will live forever. Praise the Lord!

Second Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28
As in last week’s reading in Hebrews, the author again highlights the differences between the sacrifice of Jesus and that of earthly high priests, who must sacrifice animals and repeat their sacrifices on our behalf over and over again. Jesus will return, he promises, not to deal with sin – that has already been done in Jesus’s sacrifice once and for all – but to save his faithful people.

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
Jesus is in Jerusalem on his final journey, and he is challenging the establishment. First he scorns the scribes for their arrogance and hypocrisy. Then we hear the story of the widow’s mite: The poor widow has little, but unlike the scribes, she gives everything she has. That wins Jesus’s praise. Everything she has. Is Jesus repeating the advice he gave the rich young man in a recent reading? “Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor.” Really?

All Saints B

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012.

LazarusFirst Reading: The Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9
(If you can’t find this book of Wisdom, look in the Apocrypha, also known as the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books at the end of the Old Testament. They are not in every Bible.)
As we celebrate with the readings of All Saints Day today, Wisdom reminds us of God’s promise of eternal life. This ancient text warns that “the foolish” face only the darkness of death, while promising that those who keep God’s ways and live good lives will “abide with God in love” forever.

Psalm 24
Today’s psalm, too, celebrates the rewards for those who live as God would have us live. Originally it might have been a responsive chant sung by priests and people as they approached the Temple for worship. The priest calls, “And who shall stand in his holy place?” The crowd roars back, “Those who have clean hands and pure hearts!” “Who is the king of glory?” How would you respond?

Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-6a
Continuing the All Saints Day theme of a glorious life after death for those who love God, Revelation describes a holy city coming down out of heaven, standing in stark contrast to what the writer, John of Patmos, saw as the dark and demonic earthly city of the time: Rome, portrayed as Babylon. Death and pain will be no more in the New Jerusalem, for God will be with us every day, wiping the tears from our eyes.

Gospel: John 11:32-44
Lazarus has died, and Jesus weeps. Jesus knew his friend was dead, so he took his time getting to Bethany, which angered Lazarus’s sisters, Mary and Martha. Maybe he could have done something, if only he had hurried. So often death in the family brings not only sadness but anger and rage. And then, whispering a quiet prayer to God, Jesus calls out and Lazarus answers. Death does not have the last word, and for us this offers hope.

Pentecost 22B

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012.

Job lives out a long life with riches.First Reading: Job 42:1-6, 10-17
God responded to Job’s demands for a hearing, speaking from a whirlwind to remind Job of the magnificence of God’s creation, next to which which Job is tiny and insignificant. Job quietly, faithfully accepts this. Then comes good news: God restores Job’s fortunes, double what they had been before. Job lives out a long life with riches, a big family and the respect of his friends. Job’s story has a happy ending, but it’s worth remembering that even in the sad event that things don’t get better, God is God and loves us still.

Psalm 34:1-8
Today’s psalm, described as “Praise for Deliverance from Trouble,” fits in nicely with the story of Job. Having begun with a song of praise to exalt God’s name, the psalmist now prays for deliverance from his terror. God indeed saves him from all his troubles, and the psalmist responds with joy: “Taste and see that God is good is good; happy are they who trust in the Most High!”

Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28
Jesus, as God, makes a far greater high priest than the former high priests of the Temple, as the author of Hebrews points out repeatedly in these verses. The old high priests were mortal. Jesus lives forever, and intercedes for us to save us. Mortal high priests are sinful humans who must sacrifice repeatedly in their weakness. Jesus is without sin, and his sacrifice on the cross stands for us forever.

Gospel: Mark 10:46-52
Being blind in Jesus’ time left a person nothing to do but beg. People had only pity at best for Bartimaeus sitting by the Jericho road. Perhaps they might throw him a small coin when he begged for alms. When he heard Jesus passing by, Bartimaeus yelled as loud as he could yell, defying bystanders’ attempts to shush him. Jesus listened, Jesus healed him, and Bartimaeus, seeing now, chose to follow Jesus. How might we answer when Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Pentecost 21B

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012.

Job's devotion to GodFirst Reading: Job 38:1-7,34-41
Job, who has been lamenting his condition and looking everywhere for God, angrily demanding that God come out of hiding and hear him, now gets his wish. Or does he? A mighty God speaks to him out of a whirlwind and quickly sets Job quite literally in his place. God thunders, hurling poetic words at Job like thunderbolts: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” God is great. Job is small. And so are we.

Psalm 104:1-9,35, 37c
This hymn of exaltation must have rung out over the ancient Temple in Jerusalem with trumpet blasts and shouts of praise. It portrays God as creator and ruler over all creation and imagines God riding across the world on the wings of clouds, spreading out mountains and valleys, oceans and rivers.

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10
The author of Hebrews is preaching a sermon historically understood as an effort to persuade first century Jewish Christians who had returned to Judaism to come back to Christ. It presents Jesus as the perfect high priest, offering up prayers and supplications for all, and learning obedience through his sufferings. He has now become our salvation, and we are called to imitate him.

Gospel: Mark 10:35-45
Don’t we love to volunteer? We’re eager to step forward, roll up our sleeves, and serve in the church and community. But do we love it even more when the work is done and we hear our name called out for public applause? Perhaps we should pay attention to what’s going on with the apostles, who Mark often portrays clueless and missing Jesus’s message. Are we ready to be the slave of all; to serve, not to be served; and if called, to give our lives in Christ’s service?

Pentecost 20B

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012.

First Reading: Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Job is still on the ash heap where we left him last week, scratching his sores with a shard of broken pottery. His friends have given up on trying to console him. Job’s words are bitter, angry. He wants a word with God, he wants to argue his case before God, but he can’t find God. In the darkness he is terrified and wants to vanish. Stay tuned as the story continues next week.

Psalm 22:1-15
Jesus, dying on the cross, cried out in his final agony the words that begin Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” So begins this reading, titled “Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility,” echoing Job’s lament in the cry of one who is strung out, knocked down, worn out, feeling the depth of despair and no place to turn … except to God, who knew him as an infant and who, he prays, will be there for him now.

Second Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16
Hebrews speaks of Jesus – “the word of God” – in language that we seldom associate with the Good Shepherd: “sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow … before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare …” God expects much of us, as today’s Gospel repeats. Are we ready to be laid bare before our God?

Jesus teachingGospel: Mark 10:17-31
“Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor … then come, follow me.” Really? Stewardship season is coming soon, and we’ll be invited to pledge our support of the church. Luckily for us, however, we’re not expected to give everything we own – are we? Perhaps these verses, like the Sermon on the Mount, challenge us by setting Jesus as a standard of perfection that we can aim for but won’t likely reach. Or perhaps we are meant to squirm, remembering just how rich we are, and ask ourselves if our possessions stand between us and real love of God and neighbor.

Pentecost 19B

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012.

Job and the SatanFirst Reading: Job 1:1; 2:1-10
“Oh, no, a month of Job.” A lot of people find the story of Job and his troubles disheartening. But let’s be positive: Job is a great short story and an important part of the Bible’s “wisdom literature”, books that teach us about life and God. And don’t we all ask why bad things happen to good people? Listen and ponder over the next four weeks.

We hear the beginning of Job today, and it starts off like an ancient folk tale. Remember that at the time Satan was not a red devil with horns, but a sort of prosecutor, or questioner, within the heavenly order.

Psalm 8
This beautiful psalm offers a hymn of praise to the glory of God, our maker. In lyrical poetry it celebrates the beauty of the universe and all that populates it as testimony to God’s majesty. And what better day than our Blessing of the Animals to celebrate “ all sheep and oxen … the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea”?

Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Why does God care for mere mortals so much that he sent his son to live and die among us? This letter is thought to have been written to coax back Jewish Christians who had returned to Judaism in the face of persecution. The writer makes the case, says Texas pastor Alan Brehm, that the incarnation “really and truly does show us what God is like” in the form of Jesus.

Gospel: Mark 10:2-16
This is one of those difficult gospels that makes it hard to find the love. Churches that take a hard line on divorce have brought much pain to families trapped in abusive relationships. But is that what we have here? No, it’s Jesus arguing with the Pharisees again, outwitting their plan to trap him. He turns the argument on them by pointing out that their “hardness of heart” should earn them a stricter rule. It’s no coincidence, then, that Jesus smiles and turns to the innocent children.

Pentecost 18B

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012.

First Reading: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
Sometimes the story of the Israelites wandering with Moses in the desert seems like an ancient reality show. Freed from slavery in Egypt by God’s mighty hand, they complain because they miss the good food they used to enjoy. This gets an angry response from God that prompts Moses to bark back. Later, some of Moses’ lieutenants are angry, too, because they see others horning in on their turf. Perhaps the lesson here is simply, “Can’t we all get along?”

"O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."Psalm 19:7-14
Today’s psalm urges us to pray, and tells us why we should. God’s commandments are good, and to follow them does us good. It ends with a familiar exhortation that preachers often offer at the beginning of a sermon, and that we might all do well to ponder when we begin to pray: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Second Reading: James 5:13-20
James, too, exalts the power of prayer. Pray if we are suffering, he advises us, and pray when we are happy, too. Pray when we’re sick, and ask the church to join us in prayer. Pray for healing for our own sins, and pray for each other in community so we might all be healed, our souls saved from death and our sins forgiven. That’s a compelling argument for prayer.

Gospel: Mark 9:38-50
In some ways Mark’s gospel echoes the first lesson: The apostles are angry that others are casting out devils in Jesus’ name. They tell him to make them stop. He encourages them instead to be glad that others are speaking in his name. Then he offers a series of scary warnings: “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off … And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out.” This is not literal advice, fortunately. Jesus is teaching through an old rabbinic tradition of comparing everyday actions to their most extreme alternatives.

Pentecost 16B

Illuminations of readings for Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012.

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
What could be more important to a community than its teachers, whose words shape our growth and understanding? The Israelites understood this teacher, Isaiah’s so-called “Suffering Servant,” to represent their nation in exile. Christians later found in this suffering servant an image of Christ, who endures opposition, turns the other cheek, and keeps on teaching until we hear.

Psalm 116:1-8
The Psalmist today expresses joy because God has listened to his prayer, made in grief and desperation, and has brought relief from distress and anguish, and the hope of new life. His troubled soul can rest now. God has dealt bountifully in restoring life, and this gift inspires a hymn hailing God in the boldest language we find in Psalms: “I love the Lord.”

Second Reading: James 3:1-12
TeacherI hate you! Angry words can spill out of us suddenly, before we have time to think about them. And then how we wish we could take back the hurtful things we said! James reminds us in a series of colorful metaphors that words have power. Echoing the Isaiah reading, he warns us that teachers bear a heavy responsibility to use words wisely. It’s up to us to use them well.

Gospel: Mark 8:27-38
“Who do you say that I am?” Can you picture Jesus, sitting with the apostles and confronting them with this reality check? When Peter, declaring Jesus his Messiah, objects to Jesus’s warning of his coming passion and death, Jesus calls him “Satan!” We see no smiling Jesus hugging children and lambs today, but a challenge: Take up your cross and follow. If you want to save your life in the Kingdom of Heaven, be prepared to lose it now for the Gospel and Jesus’ sake.