Illuminations on the Lectionary readings for Feb. 5, 2023 (Epiphany 5A)

First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-12

Two important ideas run through Sunday’s Lectionary readings: righteousness and light. “Righteous,” in biblical understanding, may not mean quite what we think it does in modern times.

It speaks of God’s call to God’s people to practice justice, as Isaiah insists and as Jesus, too, asks of us; by going beyond mere fasting and ritual practice to stand against oppression, feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked. Righteousness will heal our souls and light up our lives, as the light of Epiphany that shines in the deep winter darkness will illuminate the way of our God.

Psalm: Psalm 112:1-9, [10]

Sunday’s Psalm portion, titled “Blessings of the Righteous,” echoes Isaiah’s call: The righteousness of those who follow God and delight in God’s commandments will endure forever. Those who are gracious and merciful, who deal with others generously and act with justice, the Psalmist sings, will “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

Sunday’s Gospel picks up in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, just after Jesus has given the crowd the Beatitudes, promising God’s kingdom to the poor, the hungry, the thirsty; those who mourn, the meek; the humble, and all who are persecuted and oppressed. Now the crowd hears that, as God’s people, they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. With that comes the responsibility to let the world see God through your good works. Jesus says he has not come to change God’s law that calls us to righteousness: Love God, and love our neighbors as ourselves. But in fulfilling the law, Jesus will show us new ways. We will hear more about that next Sunday in the next verses of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus counts the ways: “You have heard that it was said … but I tell you …” That which was old becomes new again in Jesus.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Feb. 9, 2020

First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-12

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 themes resonate through Sunday’s readings.

Righteousness and justice are the essence of God’s call, Isaiah insists to the people returning from exile in the first reading and Jesus, too, will ask in his Sermon on the Mount. Being righteous and just requires us to go beyond mere fasting and ritual practice to stand against oppression, feed the hungry, house the homeless, and clothe the naked. Righteousness heals our souls and lights up our lives, as the light of Epiphany that shines in winter’s darkness will illuminate the way of our God.

Psalm: Psalm 112:1-9, [10]

Take care not to hear the “Prosperity Gospel” in today’s Psalm. Yes this ancient worship hymn imagines God rewarding the righteous with earthly power and riches in exchange for their good acts. But look deeper and it echoes Isaiah’s call in the first reading: The righteousness of those who follow God and delight in God’s commandments will endure forever. Those who are gracious and merciful, who deal with others generously and act with justice, will “rise in the darkness as a light for the upright.” The wealth we gain by living justly is not measured in gold and silver but by the example we set for others, showing the way to God.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

We continue in the opening chapters of 1 Corinthians as Paul makes his pastoral case to the bickering, divided church community at Corinth. We missed the opening of this argument as we marked the Presentation of Our Lord in last Sunday’s readings; it’s worth looking back to 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 to read it in full. But we get the gist of it this week as Paul invites the people to be humble. He reminds them that Christians appear foolish in the eyes of the world because they follow a Messiah who suffered the shame of crucifixion. In reality, though, he declares, we actually share God’s hidden and secret wisdom: The Holy Spirit provides new life through the mind of Christ.

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20

We come in to the middle of the Sermon on the Mount this week, just after Jesus has taught the crowd the Beatitudes, promising God’s kingdom to the poor, the hungry, the thirsty; those who mourn, the meek; the humble, and all who are persecuted and oppressed. You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, Jesus tells the people. With those gifts comes responsibility, too: We are called to show God to the world through our good works. Jesus says he has not come to change the Torah – “the Law and the Prophets” – which calls us to be just and righteous: We are to love God, and love our neighbors as ourselves.

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

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.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014

First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-12
Two important ideas run through today’s readings: Righteousness and light. “Righteous,” in biblical understanding, may not mean quite what we think it does in modern times. It speaks of God’s call to God’s people to practice justice, as Isaiah insists and as Jesus, too, asks of us, by going beyond mere fasting and ritual practice to stand against oppression, feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked. Righteousness heals our souls and lights up our lives, as the light of Epiphany that shines in the deep winter darkness will illuminate the way of our God.

Psalm: Psalm 112
Today’s Psalm, titled “Blessings of the Righteous,” echoes the Prophet Isaiah’s call: The righteousness of those who follow God and delight in God’s commandments will endure forever. Those who are gracious and merciful, who deal with others generously and act with justice, will “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
Paul continues his pastoral guidance for the quarreling community at Corinth, turning their thoughts toward humility as he reminds them that, although following the crucified Jesus in weakness and fear may make us appear “foolish” in the eyes of the world, we actually share God’s hidden and secret wisdom; the Holy Spirit will give us new life through the mind of Christ.

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20
Today’s Gospel picks up in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, just after Jesus has given the crowd the Beatitudes, promising God’s kingdom to the poor, the hungry, the thirsty; those who mourn, the meek; the humble, and all who are persecuted and oppressed. You, God’s people, are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, Jesus tells the crowd; and with that comes the responsibility to let the world see God through your good works. Jesus says he has not come to change God’s law that calls us to righteousness: Love God, and love our neighbors as ourselves. But in fulfilling the law, Jesus will show us new ways, as he goes on to do on the next pages of this great Sermon: “You have heard that it was said … but I tell you …” That which was old becomes new again in Jesus.