Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Aug. 11, 2024 (Pentecost 12B/Proper 14)

The Prophet Elijah in the Desert (1464-1468), oil painting on panel by Dieric Bouts the Elder (1420-1475). Panel in an altarpiece at Sint-Pieterskerk, Leuven, Belgium. (Click image to enlarge.)

First Reading (Track One): 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

The child born of David’s rape of Bathsheba has died, as God foretold through the prophet Nathan; and now in our Track One first reading we hear of the death of David’s son Absalom. In wildly dysfunctional dynamics of a Bronze Age royal family, Absalom had killed his half-brother, Amnon, for raping their sister, Tamar. Then Absalom went to war against his father, fighting to take over Israel’s throne. David’s soldiers find Absalom trapped in a tree, and kill him despite David’s command to deal with him gently. In spite of his son’s treasonous rebellion, David grieves him deeply. “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

First Reading (Track Two): 1 Kings 19:4-8

God provides physical and spiritual sustenance in time of trouble: This theme continues in this week’s Lectionary readings. In our Track Two first reading we find the Prophet Elijah pursued by an angry Queen Jezebel. Elijah is depressed, unwilling to get up or to eat. He goes to sleep under a broom tree and in despair asks God to take his life. God sends an angel, instead, who tempts Elijah with hot cakes and water and caring support, giving him strength to go on with his prophetic call.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 130

We often hear this Psalm of faithful hope in God; indeed, it has been only a few weeks since the last time it appeared in the Lectionary! In the context of different readings, though, we may sense its verses in new and different ways. On June 29 we heard it alongside David’s grief at the death of his friend, Jonathan. Now we sing it in harmony with David’s grief over his son Absalom’s death. God’s love and grace wait for us even when we are deep in grief. We wait for God, even as in night’s darkest hours we wait for morning light.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 34:1-8

We will read Psalm 34 in three parts over this and the next two Sundays. A Psalm of praise and thanksgiving for God’s protection in time of trouble, it is held in tradition as a hymn sung by King David after he escaped from a threatening situation in warfare. This opening portion includes an unusual sensory metaphor that has been adopted in a contemplative Taizé chant: The Psalmist tells us to “taste and see” that God is good when we are thankful for God’s protection. Happy are those who trust in God!

Second Reading: Ephesians 4:25-5:2

“Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” In its life lessons for those who lived in community in the early church, this passage from the letter to the people of Ephesus speaks good sense to us all: Tell the truth. If you’re angry with your neighbor, work it out; don’t let anger divide you. Don’t steal. Work honestly, and share with those in need. Be honest, but be positive. Be gracious. Forgive one another. And at the end of the day, love each other as Jesus loves us, and try to live as Jesus would have us live.

Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51

We gain a sense of continuity through repetition in Sunday’s Gospel. Once again we hear the beloved verse that concluded last Sunday’s reading, now as the first verse of the Gospel: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Now, though, the mood of the crowd following Jesus changes, and people start pushing back. They know Jesus. They know his parents. They watched him grow up. Who is he to be talking like this? But Jesus stands firm, and will continue to do so as we continue through John’s extended exposition of Jesus as manna, the bread of life.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Aug. 15, 2021

First Reading (Track One): 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14

What is wisdom? What is foolishness? How do we gain the one and learn from the other? Sunday’s Lectionary readings offer insight to wisdom.

Christ Accused by the Pharisees (1308-1311), tempera painting on wood by Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255-1319). Museo dell’Opera Metropolitana del Duomo, Siena, Italy. (Click image to enlarge.)

In our Track One first reading, we hear that David has died after 40 years as king. His son Solomon, the second son of David and Bathsheba, ascends to the throne, and he will go on to a majestic reign. Here at the beginning of this reading, though, Solomon is well aware that he is young and inexperienced. When God comes to Solomon in a dream and invites him to ask for whatever he might wish, Solomon chooses wisely: He asks not for long life or riches but for the wisdom to govern well. God is pleased, and rewards Solomon with wisdom and honor, asking only that he walk in God’s way. All will go well for many years, but Solomon’s reign, sadly, will come to a bad end when the lure of great power corrupts him.

First Reading (Track Two): Proverbs 9:1-6

It may be a gift to be simple, as the Shakers sang, but the authors of Wisdom and the Psalms don’t treat simplicity so kindly. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, the word “simple” depicts a naive person, one who lacks experience or, well, wisdom. In the Track Two first reading, Wisdom – personified in the Old Testament as a woman, present with God at the Creation – sets the table for a great feast, and invites the simple to come and be made wise. Through wisdom, we hear, we gain insight and become mature. We learn to walk in God’s way.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 111

Once again we hear a Psalm that we read earlier in this Lectionary year (during the season after Epiphany), but when we have it in the context of different readings we hear it in new ways. One of the many Psalms that sing God’s praise with joy and exultation, Psalm 111 shouts out our thanksgiving for all of God’s work, for all God’s majesty and splendor, for all of God’s justice that lasts forever. God feeds us, the Psalmist sings. God’s covenant redeems us. The people shout “Hallelujah!” “Praise God!”

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 34:9-14

The terminology of “fearing” God quickly leads to misunderstanding. I remember as a child being puzzled and more than a little disturbed the first time I encountered this. I hurried to ask Mom: “What does fearing the Lord mean? Are we supposed to be afraid of God?” Happily, she promptly reassured me: Think rather of being in awe – awestruck by God’s love and righteousness. If you love life, the Psalmist sings, be wise and follow God’s way. Speak kindly and with truth; avoid evil and do good; work for peace.

Second Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20

Sunday’s passage from the Letter to the Ephesians continues where last week’s reading left off. It fits neatly into the pattern of this week’s readings with its focus on pursuing wisdom, not foolishness, and fearing God not in fright and alarm but with awe that inspires love. Follow God’s way, filled with the Spirit, it urges us, giving thanks for all our blessings in prayer and song to God in Jesus’ name.

Gospel: John 6:51-58

Over the five weeks that we spend with Jesus’ long “bread narrative” in John’s Gospel this summer, its tone has taken a turn. Initially, crowds were awed by Jesus feeding the multitude and followed him hoping for more, only to become confused. Then last week the discussion turned adversarial, as a crowd of Jewish temple authorities began questioning him. That argument continues in this week’s Gospel, but Jesus is steadfast. His audience seems horrified when he starts using a different Greek word for “eat,” choosing an earthy verb meaning “gnaw, crunch, or chew” to declare that all must “eat his flesh and drink his blood” to earn salvation and eternal life.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Aug. 12, 2018

Landscape with the Prophet Elijah in the Desert (1605-1615). Oil painting on canvas by Abraham Bloemaert (1566-1651). The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia. (Click image to enlarge.)

The child born of David’s rape of Bathsheba has died, as God foretold through the prophet Nathan; and now we learn of the death of David’s son Absalom. In wildly dysfunctional dynamics of a Bronze Age royal family, Absalom had killed his half-brother, Amnon, for raping their sister, Tamar. Then Absalom went to war against his father, fighting to take over Israel’s throne. David’s soldiers find Absalom trapped in a tree, and kill him despite David’s command to deal with him gently. In spite of his son’s treasonous rebellion, David grieves him deeply. “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

First Reading (Track Two): 1 Kings 19:4-8

When we are in trouble and despair, God provides us the physical and spiritual sustenance of the bread of life. This ongoing theme continues through this week’s Lectionary readings. In our first reading we find the Prophet Elijah torn by depression and fear. He has escaped the murderous anger of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who had threatened to kill him. But now, alone in the stark wilderness and deeply depressed, he lies down under a broom tree and asks God to let him die. Instead, though, God sends an angel to tempt Elijah with hot cakes and water and loving support. This restores Elijah’s strength, and he resumes his prophesying.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 130

We often hear this Psalm of faithful hope in God; indeed, it has been only a few weeks since the last time it appeared in our readings! In the context of different readings, though, we may sense its verses in new and different ways. On June 29 we heard it alongside David’s grief at the death of his friend, Jonathan. Now we sing it in harmony with David’s grief over his son Absalom’s death. God’s love and grace wait for us even when we are deep in grief. We wait for God, even as in night’s darkest hours we wait for morning light.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 34:1-8

We will hear this Psalm, divided into three portions, in this and coming weeks. Tradition holds that David himself sang this Psalm after he had narrowly escaped death at the hands of King Abimelech of the Philistines. Appropriately, it is a song of praise and thanksgiving for God’s protection in time of trouble. In an unusual sensory metaphor that has been adopted in a contemplative Taizé chant, we “taste and see” that God is good.

Second Reading: Ephesians 4:25-5:2

“Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” In its life lessons for those who lived in community in the early church, this passage from the letter to the people of Ephesus speaks good sense to us all: Tell the truth. If you’re angry with your neighbor, work it out; don’t let anger divide you. Don’t steal. Work honestly, and share with those in need. Be honest, but be positive. Be gracious. Forgive one another. And at the end of the day, love each other as Jesus loves us, and try to live as Jesus would have us live.

Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51

The verse that ended last week’s Gospel is repeated as the first verse this week: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” These words describe our hope in the Eucharist so clearly that we often sing them in the Fraction Anthem before Communion. Here, though, the crowd following Jesus starts to push back. Echoing the scene we heard in Mark’s Gospel last month, they challenge Jesus: They know him. They know his parents. They watched him grow up. Who is he to be talking like this? But Jesus stands firm, and will continue to do so as we stay with this Chapter of John for the next three Sundays. In Jesus we know God. Through Jesus, God is with us.

What are “Track 1” and “Track 2”?
During the long green season after Pentecost, there are two tracks (or strands) each week for Old Testament readings. Within each track, there is a Psalm chosen to accompany the particular lesson.
The Revised Common Lectionary allows us to make use of either of these tracks, but once a track has been selected, it should be followed through to the end of the Pentecost season, rather than jumping back and forth between the two strands.
For more information from LectionaryPage.net, click here.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Aug. 16, 2015

Wisdom personified as a woman, Sophia. Ancient Russian Orthodox icon.

It may be a gift to be simple, as the Shakers sang, but the authors of Wisdom and the Psalms don’t treat simplicity so kindly, using the word “simple” for a naive person, lacking experience or, well, wisdom. Wisdom – personified in the Old Testament as a woman, present with God at the Creation – sets the table for a great feast, and invites the simple to come and be made wise. Through wisdom we learn to walk in God’s way.

Psalm: Psalm 34:9-14

A bright young man came up with a puzzled look one morning after hearing a similar reading. “I don’t understand about ‘fearing’ the Lord,” he said. “Are we supposed to be afraid of God?” We were quick to reassure him: Think rather of being in awe – awestruck by God’s love and righteousness. If you love life, the Psalmist sings, follow God’s way. Speak kindly and with truth; avoid evil and do good; work for peace.

Second Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20

Today’s verses from the Letter to the Ephesians continue where last week’s reading left off. Echoing Proverbs’ advice to become wise, this reading too urges us to follow God’s way, filled with the Spirit, giving thanks for all our blessings in prayer and song to God in Jesus’ name.

Gospel: John 6:51-58

Jesus’ long narrative in John’s Gospel has taken a turn. The crowds that have been awed by Jesus feeding the multitude begin to doubt him when he tells them that he is the “living bread.” Now they argue back. As the discussion turns adversarial, John calls the crowd “The Jews,” a term that will become more problematic as we move toward the Passion and find John blaming the Jewish Temple leaders for Jesus’ death. But Jesus is steadfast, even if his audience seems horrified: All must “eat his flesh and drink his blood” to earn salvation and eternal life.