Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sept. 4, 2022

First Reading (Track One): Jeremiah 18:1-11

Our first reading and Gospel this Sunday might seem to turn our ideas of a protective God and a peaceful Jesus upside down.

In our Hebrew Bible passage, God shows Jeremiah an artisan, a creator, who fashions pots from clay and who is not reluctant to smash and re-make an unsatisfactory creation. If the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem do not turn back from their evil ways, God, like a cosmic potter, will shape evil against the people and bring disaster upon them.

First Reading (Track Two): Deuteronomy 30:15-20

The chosen people, looking back on 40 years wandering in the wilderness, have finally reached the banks of the Jordan. Before they make their fateful crossing into the promised land, Moses gathers them all and reminds them of the covenant they made with God when they received the Ten Commandments at Sinai: If you love God, walk in God’s ways, and follow God’s laws, you will prosper. But turn away from God and you will lose the land and God’s blessings.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17

God knows us as intimately as the potter knows his clay. God knows our every thought, whatever we are doing, wherever we are, the Psalmist sings; God knows every word that we speak and every idea that we imagine. Even before we were born, God knew us. This Psalm neither gives explicit thanks for God’s deep knowledge of our every moment nor imagines how this knowledge affects our daily lives. No, the mere fact of God’s knowing us is sufficient in itself.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 1

The first of the 150 ancient hymns that make up the glorious book of Psalms sets forth a premise that will continue throughout: Those who choose to follow God’s laws, God’s teaching, will be as strong and prosperous as trees growing by rivers, fruitful and long-lived. Those who follow wicked ways will perish, blown away like dead leaves and the chaff of wheat. This is a simple restatement of the covenant of Sinai that the people heard on the banks of Jordan in our first reading.

Second Reading: Philemon 1-21

In this reading we hear almost all of Paul’s brief letter to Philemon. This may be the shortest epistle in the New Testament, but it has borne heavy historic weight, as it was sadly misunderstood for centuries as giving biblical approval to slavery. We might wish that Paul had given a more powerful argument against slavery; but he does what he can in the cultural context of his times, gently guiding the slave holder Philemon to a deeper truth as his runaway slave Onesimus, Paul’s friend, returns to his master: Among Christians, even slaves are more than slaves; they are beloved brothers and sisters in the flesh and in the Lord, and should be greeted with love.

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

Tension is rising as Jesus continues his journey toward Jerusalem and the cross. The crowds that have been following him since he set his face toward Jerusalem are growing larger and more excited, and we’ll soon learn that the Romans and Temple leaders are nervous about this uproar headed toward the capital at Passover. Jesus wants the crowd to know that it will not be easy to follow him on this journey. Do we really have to “hate” our families and give up everything we have to follow Jesus? Don’t start a job that we can’t finish, Jesus warns. We have to follow him with our whole hearts, not just halfway.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Sept. 8, 2019

First Reading (Track One): Jeremiah 18:1-11

Sunday’s readings nudge us to take a closer look at our casual assumptions about God’s role in the universe and Jesus’ image as the gentle Good Shepherd.

In the Track One first reading, God sends Jeremiah to watch an artisan, a creator, who fashions pots from clay, who is not reluctant to smash and re-make an unsatisfactory creation over and over again. If the people of Judah do not turn from their evil ways, Jeremiah hears, then God, like a cosmic potter, will create disaster for them. Note, though, that God, the cosmic potter, tries creation over and over again. Even when humanity goes wrong, the possibility of repentance and restoration remains.

First Reading (Track Two): Deuteronomy 30:15-20

The Israelites have been wandering 40 years in the desert, according to the ancestral stories. Now we catch up with them as they reach the River Jordan at last and are preparing to cross into the Promised Land. Before this glorious passage, they pause while Moses reminds them of the covenant they made at Mount Sinai: Love God and walk in God’s ways, follow God’s laws and you will thrive and prosper. But turn away from God and you will lose the land and God’s blessings. This simple call to follow God’s way lies at the center of Scripture, and it shapes Jesus’ message to us as well.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17

God knows us as intimately as Jeremiah’s potter knows his clay. Whatever we do, wherever we go, God knows our every thought, the Psalmist sings. God knows every word that we speak and every idea that we imagine. Even before we were born, God knew us. As we chant this Psalm, notice that it does not explicitly thank God for knowing our every moment, nor does it ponder how this knowledge affects our daily lives. No, the simple fact that God knows us so deeply is enough.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 1

The first of the 150 ancient hymns that make up the Psalms restates Moses’ theme at the banks of Jordan: The world is made up of two kinds of people, those who follow God’s laws and those who do not. Follow God’s laws and be happy and prosper; follow the way of the wicked and perish. Scripture is far more nuanced than this black-and-white understanding, of course. Still, “follow God’s ways and win, follow evil ways and lose,” concisely sums up the Covenant that Moses made with God for the people at Mount Sinai.

Second Reading: Philemon 1-21

Paul, having befriended young Onesimus, a slave, in prison, writes a letter about the youth to the slave’s master, Philemon. We might wish that Paul had taken a strong stand against slavery, offering clear guidance on this evil practice that would ring through the ages. But read it closely, and we see that Paul is gently guiding Philemon to a deeper truth: Christians should love each other as brothers and sisters. There is no space for slavery in that!

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

Tension is rising as Jesus continues his journey toward Jerusalem and the cross. The crowds that have been following him since he set his face toward Jerusalem are growing larger and more excited. Meanwhile, the Romans and temple leaders are nervous about this uproarious gang coming toward the capital at Passover. Jesus needs the crowd to know that it will not be easy to follow him on this journey, just as he had warned them earlier that he came not to bring peace but division. Do we really have to “hate” our families and give up everything we have to follow Jesus, though? Is Jesus exaggerating for effect? This much is sure: Jesus is warning his followers not to start a task that we can’t finish. We need to follow him nor halfheartedly but with our whole hearts.

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. 14, 2016

First Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7

In the opening verses of today’s reading, Isaiah sings praise for God’s beautiful vineyard. But the prophet’s words soon take a darker turn. The vineyard was planned and planted thoughtfully and tended with care, but at harvest time it produced sour, unusable grapes. The vineyard’s failure angers God, who will tend it no more. Isaiah spells out the truths behind the metaphor: The vineyard is the house of Israel, the people of Judah. God planted them to reap righteousness and justice, but they’ve failed in this mission, and they will harvest bloodshed.

First Reading (Track Two): Jeremiah 23:23-29

Jeremiah is often nicknamed “the weeping prophet” because he spoke such anguished prophecy of warning and doom before the Temple was destroyed and the people sent into exile in Babylon. In these verses he describes a God who exists in every corner of earth and space, as far away as the stars, and as near as our beating hearts. Can we see a parallel between Jesus’ stark words in today’s Gospel and Isaiah’s description of a God who loves us yet has power to wield fire and destruction?

Psalm 80

Isaiah’s vineyard metaphor finds an echo in the Psalmist’s song: Israel, the beloved vine that God brought out of Egypt, tended and nurtured, once grew so mighty that it filled all the land. But now everything has changed. The vine is ravaged, eaten by animals, burned like rubbish. Calling for God’s protection, the Psalmist asks God to tend the vine again, restoring the people and showing us the light of God’s countenance.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 82

The idea of God in a divine council of other gods seems strange to our modern ears. Isn’t our faith tradition firmly monotheistic? These verses may reflect an ancient understanding of our God as supreme over the lesser gods of other nations. But the deep message of this Psalm remains relevant through the ages. It reminds us that God insists on justice, and calls us to stand up for the weak, the orphan, the lowly, the destitute and the needy.

Second Reading: Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2

Following last week’s praise for Abraham as our ancestor in faith, we now hear more vignettes about Old Testament heroes who achieved greatness through their faith and now form a “cloud of witnesses” that surrounds and inspires us. Those witnesses should inspire us to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us” as we follow Jesus, who endured the shame of crucifixion and now sits at the right hand of God.

Gospel: Luke 12:49-56

This is one of those Gospels that makes us stop and think. Isn’t Jesus kind and caring – the Prince of Peace? Doesn’t Jesus love his enemies? He always turns his other cheek to those who would strike him! So what’s all this angry talk about not bringing peace but fire and division? Remember that we are following Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and the cross in this Pentecost season. Walking this hard journey with him is not an easy path. The Kingdom is coming soon, and it may divide us even from friends and family.

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

First Reading: Hosea 11:1-11Hosea is an early prophet, writing around 750 BCE and likely following soon after Amos (whose dire warnings we heard last month). Hosea, too, warns of the coming destruction of Israel, the Northern Kingdom, if its people don’t return to God’s commandments. In beautiful imagery, he envisions Israel as a child and God as a loving but exasperated parent, who knows that the misbehaving offspring deserve punishment, but won’t give up on them entirely. Eventually they will come home to a happy reunion.

Psalm: Psalm 107
The Israelites returning from exile might have sung a hymn like Psalm 107, subtitled, “God’s compassion despite Israel’s Ingratitude.” Three times in these few verses the people praise God’s “steadfast love,” a poignant Hebrew word – “chesed” – that may also be translated as “compassion,” “faithfulness,” “kindness,” “mercy” or “grace.” Also, did you notice the phrase, “the hungry [God] fills with good things”? If that seemed familiar, you may be remembering the Magnificat, the song of Mary, who used the same words to thank God for choosing her as the mother of Jesus.

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-11
Continuing this week in Colossians, a letter perhaps written by a later follower of Paul in his name, we see a variation of Paul’s radically inclusive “Neither Jew nor Greek” phrase in his letter to the Galatians. Once we are “raised” with Jesus and connected with each other in baptism, such earthly differences as race, religion, gender, class and culture no longer matter. Our new life in Christ is one in all.

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21
The rich man in Jesus’ parable became wealthy through his work, planning and careful investment. He has an enviable retirement plan, having stored up sufficient property and earnings to ensure him a merry life of ease in retirement. Yet God calls him a fool! What are we missing here? Perhaps Jesus is making two points: We never know when we’ll die, and the man has saved up for a future he’ll never see. Perhaps even more important, he is greedy. He never gave a thought to others. Jesus, who reminded us that what we do for the poor, we do also for him, has little patience with those who think only of themselves.