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All Saints C

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Thoughts on the Lessons for All Saints’ Day, Nov. 6, 2022
(All Saints’ Day is celebrated on Nov. 1, but may also be celebrated in the liturgy for the following Sunday.)

First Reading (Track One): Daniel 7:1-3; 15-18

We remember all saints, known and unknown, on All Saints’ Day.

Jesus Proclaims the Beatitudes,

Jesus Proclaims the Beatitudes (1481-1482), fresco by Cosimo Rosselli (1439-1507). Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Rome. (Click image to enlarge.)

Our Track One first reading might remind us of Revelation. Much of the book of Daniel (one of the latest books of the Hebrew Bible) is apocalyptic literature, an imaginative genre that remained popular during early Christianity. Like our science fiction and fantasy, writing in this genre was understood as symbolic, not literal. Daniel tells of a vivid dream about four scary beasts that represent earthly kings. In later verses, we meet a winged lion, a tusked bear, a four-headed leopard, and an iron-toothed monster with 10 horns! But the nightmare ends with reassurance that resonates as we recall all who have died and gone to their eternal rest: God will win and reign forever.

Psalm: Psalm 149

Psalm 149 is one of the psalms that celebrates warlike violence in language that reflects Bronze Age sensibility in the Ancient Near East. Listen, though, and we can hear its echoes all too well in the imagery of modern warfare, shock and awe. We sing to the Lord a new song, joyously dancing and shaking tambourines to celebrate God’s gift of victory in battle, while the enemy’s kings are bound in iron chains. Before we judge too harshly, recall that the Psalms, the bible’s ancient hymnal, offer a full human range of emotion, from this warrior shout to the protective love of the Good Shepherd.

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:11-23

God has placed Christ at the right hand of the Creator and has given Christ great power to rule over us all, in the present and for all time to come. Thus the author of Ephesians assures his flock, writing in Paul’s name to the persecuted Christians of Ephesus in Asia Minor. From that time onward, all the people of God, baptized in Christ and sealed by the Spirit, are the saints of God. We are Christ’s body on earth, pledged through our inheritance through baptism to redemption as God’s own people.

Gospel: Luke 6:20-31

How well do you know the Beatitudes? Matthew’s narrative of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount comes to mind for most of us: These are memorable directions toward a life of service and neighborly love. Listen for the differences, though, in the evangelist Luke’s distinctly different view of the Beatitudes. Luke’s version in Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain is more directly focused on caring for the poor. By “poor,” Luke explicitly means those who have no money or resources, not only the “poor in spirit” who Matthew invokes. What’s more, Luke’s version expects us to give food to the hungry and water to the thirsty, not simply to stand with those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” as Matthew suggests. Don’t just turn the other cheek, says Luke: Forgive your enemies … and pray for them too.

All Saints C

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Thoughts on the Lessons for All Saints C, Nov. 1, 2019
(All Saints’ Day may also be celebrated on the Sunday following Nov. 1.)

First Reading: Daniel 7:1-3; 15-18

We remember all saints, known and unknown, on November 1, All Saints’ Day. As one of the seven principal feasts of the church year, its observance may be moved to the following Sunday.

The Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount (1598), oil painting on copper by Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625). The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. (Click image to enlarge.)

The first reading from the book of Daniel, one of the last books in the Old Testament, resembles the style of Revelation. Its contemporaries would have recognized its then-popular genre as symbolic, not literal. In these verses, Daniel tells of a vivid dream about four alarming beasts that represent earthly kings, a terrifying vision that left his spirit troubled. But the nightmare ends with reassurance as we recall all who have died and gone to their eternal rest: God will win and reign forever.

Psalm: Psalm 149

Shouting out praise for God’s glory, we join the Psalmist in a new song with full hearts and voices, worshiping God so fully that the people physically embody their prayer in dance, music and song. We rejoice that God takes pleasure in us; we praise God who lifts up the poor. But then the short Psalm takes a sudden turn that might remind us of an ancient vision of Judgement Day: It recognizes God not only as protector of the faithful but also as stern judge of all who’ve turned against God’s way.

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:11-23

Christ is King, and God has placed him at God’s right hand to rule over us all, the author of Ephesians assures his flock, writing to the persecuted Christians of Asia Minor in Paul’s name. From that time onward, the author assures them, all the people of God, baptized in Christ and sealed by the Spirit, are the saints of God. We are Christ’s body on earth, pledged through our inheritance through baptism to redemption as God’s own people.

Gospel: Luke 6:20-31

As we hear Luke’s version of the Beatitudes in Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, compare it in your mind with Matthew’s familiar narrative in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew’s account shows Jesus guiding us toward service and neighborly love. We can find that in Luke’s view as well. But Luke’s version, as we might expect from the evangelist who told us of Mary’s Magnificat and Jesus’ first sermon in Nazareth, is more directly focused on caring for the poor and the oppressed; not just Matthew’s “poor in spirit” but those who actually have no money, no resources. Luke calls us to give food to the hungry and water to the thirsty as well as standing with those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Don’t just turn the other cheek: Forgive your enemies, and pray for them. In Luke’s Beatitudes, doing unto others is not easy, but it is essential. It binds us as the people of God.

All Saints C

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Nov. 6, 2016

The Beatitudes

The Beatitudes

First Reading: Daniel 7:1-3; 15-18

Does this reading remind you of Revelation? Much of the book of Daniel is apocalyptic literature, an imaginative genre that was popular from late Old Testament times through early Christianity and was understood as symbolic, not literal. Daniel tells of a vivid dream about four scary beasts that represent earthly kings. In later verses, we would meet a winged lion, a tusked bear, a four-headed leopard, and an iron-toothed monster with 10 horns! But the nightmare ends with reassurance that resonates as we recall all those who have died and gone on to their eternal rest: God will win and reign forever.

First Reading (BCP Service II): Ecclesiasticus 2:1-11

We mark All Saints Day with a rare visit to the Apocrypha, the books at the end of the Old Testament. Ecclesiasticus (not to be confused with Ecclesiastes), is also known as “The Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach,” or “Sirach” for short. Calling on the people to stay true to their faith when Israel had fallen under Greek rule, Sirach reminds us to remember all the saints, and discover that those who trust in our compassionate God are never disappointed; those who call upon our merciful God are never neglected.

Psalm 149

Shouting out praise for God’s glory, the Psalmist sings out a new song, a song of praise with full hearts and voices, worshiping God so fully that the people physically embody their prayer in dance, music and song. We rejoice that God takes pleasure in us; we praise God who lifts up the poor. But then the short Psalm takes a sudden turn that might remind us of an ancient vision of Judgement Day: It recognizes God not only as protector of the faithful but also as stern judge of all who’ve turned against God’s way.

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:11-23

Christ is King, and God has placed him at God’s right hand and given him great power to rule over us all, in the present and for all time to come. So the author of Ephesians assures his flock, writing in Paul’s name to the persecuted Christians of Ephesus in Asia Minor. From that time onward, all the people of God, baptized in Christ and sealed by the Spirit, are the saints of God. We are Christ’s body on earth, pledged through our inheritance through baptism to redemption as God’s own people.

Gospel: Luke 6:20-31

Think you know the Beatitudes? For most of us, Matthew’s narrative of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is the version we remember, as it guides us toward service and neighborly love. Today, though, we hear Luke’s rather different view of the Beatitudes in Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain. Luke’s version is much more directly focused on caring for the poor, and that means those who have no money or resources, not only the “poor in spirit.” We are called to give food to the hungry and water to the thirsty, not just stand with those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Don’t just turn the other cheek: Forgive your enemies … and pray for them. In these Beatitudes, doing unto others is not easy, but it is essential. It binds us as the people of God.

All Saints C

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Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Nov. 4, 2013.

The Beatitudes

The Beatitudes

First Reading: Daniel 7:1-3; 15-18
This reading from Daniel, one of the last books in the Old Testament, reads a lot like Revelation. It is apocalyptic literature, a popular genre of that era that the ancients would have immediately recognized as symbolic, not literal description. Four scary beasts, representing powerful empires of earth! In later verses we learn that they were a winged lion, a tusked bear, a four-headed leopard, and an iron-toothed monster with 10 horns. Who wouldn’t be scared by a dream like that? But the nightmare ends with reassurance that God, not horrifying monsters, wins and will reign forever.

Psalm: Psalm 149
In this Psalm of praise for God’s glory, we sing in the assembly of the faithful, praising God with full hearts and voices, knowing that God takes pleasure in God’s people. But then we get those angry verses about swords and vengeance and punishment. What’s up with that? Perhaps it shows us a people burning with the memory of defeat and exile, in a book of songs that show us not only as we ought to be but as we are. Can we learn to love God and our neighbors?

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:11-23
Christ is King, and God has placed him at God’s right hand to rule over us all, the author of Ephesians assures his flock, writing to the persecuted Christians of Asia Minor in Paul’s name. There’s a role for us in this kingdom, too! As the people of God, we are Christ’s body on earth, called to help with the work of building the Kingdom of God.

Gospel: Luke 6:20-31
Ah, the familiar Beatitudes, Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, guiding us toward a life of service and love. Well, not quite! That was Matthew’s version. This is Luke’s. It’s a little more edgy, and it asks more of us. These are Christian values as Luke presents them: if you are rich, full and happy, watch out. You’re not doing it right! Give what you have to the poor. Don’t just turn the other cheek but forgive your enemies … and pray for them. As Jesus commands it, “Do unto others” isn’t easy, but it’s essential. It binds us as the people of God.