Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for April 3, 2022 (Lent 5C)

First Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21

The whole world, it seems, is divided into Marthas and Marys, and most of us know which one we are. In Sunday’s Gospel, we hear the familiar story of these two friends of Jesus and their differing ways of showing their love, as Jesus progresses toward Jerusalem and the Cross.

Each of Sunday’s readings touches on the idea of progress toward a goal. In the first reading, Isaiah envisions the people in exile, defeated and hopeless, unable to get up; “extinguished, quenched like a wick.” But in God there is hope for new ways, the prophet assures us. God will make a path in the wilderness and create rivers in the desert, protecting God’s chosen people and bringing them home.

Psalm: Psalm 126

Psalm 126 is one of a series of hymns known as “Songs of Ascent” that may have been sung as the people approached the Temple in ritual procession. Celebrating the people’s return to Jerusalem from exile, the Psalm echoes the Isaiah passage: It reminds us that God’s redemption can turn our tears into shouts of joy even though life’s burdens once seemed to be more than we could bear.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:4b-14

Once a proud Pharisee and persecutor of Christians, Paul thought he had a lot to boast about. But once he felt that he knew Christ, everything changed. He has lost everything that he had before, and all that is now rubbish to him, he says in his letter to this Greek convert community in Philippi. Having gained righteousness from God through faith in Jesus, his new hope rests in the resurrection. As Isaiah advised Israel, so Paul urges the Philippians: Forget what lies behind you. Press on toward the goal of resurrection and life through God’s call in Jesus.

Gospel: Gospel: John 12:1-8

Our journey through Lent with Jesus is nearing its end. In John’s Gospel, Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead, and now the high priests are worried. Jesus’s miracles are getting too much attention, and the clamor might upset the hated Roman rulers. They decide to kill him if he shows his face in Jerusalem during Passover. Of course, that’s just where Jesus is headed. But first, as told in Sunday’s Gospel, he stops in Bethany to visit Lazarus, Mary and Martha, and Martha shows her love by bathing his feet extravagantly with a costly perfumed oil. Profit-minded Judas objects, but Jesus says, “Leave her alone!” The oil is for his burial, Jesus says, reminding them, “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for April 7, 2019

First Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21

As Palm Sunday and Holy Week draw near, Sunday’s readings direct our thoughts toward seeking our goals with God’s help.

In our first reading, the Prophet Isaiah remembers the time when the people were in exile in Babylon, defeated and hopeless, unable to get up; “extinguished, quenched like a wick.” Nevertheless, the prophet advises, “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.” In God there is hope for new ways. God will make a path in the wilderness and create rivers in the desert, protecting God’s chosen people and bringing them home.

Psalm: Psalm 126

Sunday’s Psalm mirrors the hope that we heard in the Isaiah passage, as seen from a future joyous day when all things old have been made new again. God has restored Israel’s fortunes, filling the people with laughter and shouts of joy. Those who left the holy city, weeping under burdens that seemed too great to bear, now return with shouts of joy, bringing in a bountiful harvest.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:4b-14

When Paul was a zealous Pharisee, he thought he had a lot to be proud of. He was strong in his Jewish faith as he angrily persecuted the Christians, regarding them as dangerous radicals. But then he discovered Jesus and everything changed, he tells the people of Philippi (a Gentile community of retired Roman soldiers in Greece, Christian converts themselves). Forget what lies behind, he urges them, echoing the advice we hear in Isaiah’s reading: press on, as he does, toward the goal of resurrection and life.

Gospel: John 12:1-8

We turn to John’s Gospel this week, dropping in just after Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead. The high priests are worried about this troublesome rabbi whose miracles are exciting the crowds. They decide to have him killed if he shows his face in Jerusalem during Passover. Of course, that’s just where Jesus is headed. But first he stops in Bethany to visit his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. When Martha shows her love for Jesus by bathing his feet extravagantly with a costly perfumed oil, profit-minded Judas objects, but Jesus says, “Leave her alone … You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” This should not not be read as an argument against helping the poor. On the contrary, it reflects God’s explicit commandment in Torah that we must always open our hands to our poor and needy neighbors who are always among us.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for March 13, 2016

First Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21

As Palm Sunday and Holy Week draw near, today’s readings touch on the theme of moving toward a goal with God’s help. Isaiah envisions the people in exile, defeated and hopeless, unable to get up; “extinguished, quenched like a wick.” But in God there is hope for new ways. God will make a path in the wilderness and create rivers in the desert, protecting God’s chosen people and bringing them home.

Psalm 126

Today’s Psalm echoes the hope that we heard in the Isaiah passage, as seen from a future joyous day when all things old have been made new again. God has restored Israel’s fortunes, filling the people with laughter and shouts of joy. Those who left the holy city, weeping under burdens that seemed too great to bear, now return in joy, bringing in a bountiful harvest.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:4b-14

Once a proud Pharisee and persecutor of Christians, Paul thought he had a lot to boast about. But now that he knows Christ, everything has changed. That which was old is now rubbish to him; having gained righteousness from God through faith in Jesus, his new hope rests in the resurrection. As Isaiah advised Israel, so Paul urges the Christian converts of Philippi in Greece: Forget what lies behind. Press on toward the goal of resurrection and life through God’s call in Jesus.

Gospel: John 12:1-8

To grasp the powerful context of this familiar narrative, re-read John’s verses just before and just after the story of Mary weeping as she anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead, causing such an uproar that the chief priests and Pharisees decided to kill Jesus to keep the Romans from stepping in. Just after today’s verses, the temple authorities decide to kill Lazarus, too, because his miraculous return from the dead is inspiring people to follow Jesus. Jesus is at risk of death. He warns his friends that they won’t always have him with them. But don’t mistake the meaning of Jesus’ words, “You always have the poor with you.” This is not an argument against helping the poor. On the contrary, it is a direct quote from Torah, God’s explicit commandment that we must always open our hands to the poor and needy neighbors in our land.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, March 17, 2013.

First Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21
The idea of progress toward a goal runs through today’s readings. This is a meaningful image for us as we move through the penitential days of Lent toward Holy Week and the joy of Easter. The Isaiah reading, recalling the time when the people were in exile in Babylon, reminds us not to yell, “But we’ve always done it this way!” when it’s time to look for new ways. Even when things seem hopeless, God is with us.

Psalm 126
One of a series of hymns known as “Songs of Ascent” and perhaps originally sung as the people approached the Temple in ritual procession, this Psalm celebrates the return to Jerusalem from exile. It reminds us that God’s redemption can turn our tears into shouts of joy even though life’s burdens once seemed to be more than we could bear.

Second Reading: Philippians 3:4b-14
Paul thought he had a lot to be proud of when he was a Pharisee, strong in his Jewish faith and angrily persecuting the Christians who he then saw as dangerous radicals. But that was before he discovered Jesus and everything changed, he tells the people of Philippi in Greece, a Gentile community of retired Roman soldiers, Christian converts themselves. Forget what lies behind, he urges them, echoing Isaiah’s advice; press on – as he does – toward the goal of resurrection and life.

Gospel: John 12:1-8
Our journey through Lent with Jesus is nearing its end. In John’s Gospel, Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead, and now the high priests are worried. Jesus’s miracles are getting too much attention, and the clamor might upset the hated Roman rulers. They decide to kill him if he shows his face in Jerusalem during Passover. Of course, that’s just where Jesus is headed. But first, he stops in Bethany to visit Lazarus, Mary and Martha, and Martha shows her love by bathing his feet extravagantly with a costly perfumed oil. Profit-minded Judas objects, but Jesus says, “Leave her alone!” The oil is for his burial, Jesus says, reminding them, “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”