Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Nov. 10, 2019

First Reading (Track One): Haggai 1:15b-2:9

Sunday’s readings remind us to place our hope and trust in God, even during hard times.

In the Track One first reading, we hear the minor prophet Haggai (pronounced “Hah-guy”) date his prophecy specifically in the second year of the reign of King Darius the Great of Persia, some 500 years before Christ. Darius was a successor to King Cyrus, who had released the people from Babylonian exile and sent them back to Jerusalem about 20 years before. The restoration of the city and the Temple proved to be a big job that couldn’t be done quickly. But Haggai calls the people to hang on to their courage and faith in God: Zion’s wealth and grandeur will be rebuilt in splendor even greater than the first Temple.

First Reading (Track Two): Job 19:23-27a

Our Track Two first reading drops us into the middle of Job’s long talk with his friends, in which they try to figure out why so many bad things are happening to him, while he remains unpersuaded by their advice. Job shouts in frustration, wishing that his words could be written in a book or even engraved on a rock forever. In words that Handel would set to memorable music in The Messiah, Job declares, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.” Whatever happens to him, in the end, Job expects justice and equity when he stands before God, who will redeem him.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 145:1-5, 18-22

The 150 Psalms cover a broad range of hope, lament, petition and praise, a diverse anthology that seems appropriate for all the ways that God’s people approach the divine in worship and song. The last group of the Psalms, though, conclude the book with unalloyed praise. As we hear these Psalms, starting with this portion of Psalm 145, we can almost hear resounding chords and choruses as the people raise their voices in awe at God’s wonder. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!”

Alternative Psalm (Track One): Psalm 98

Psalm 98, available as an alternative to the Psalm 145 passage above for Sunday’s Track One readings, is a song of praise too, this one focused on our joy with God’s faithfulness to the people and the marvelous things that God has done. Singing to the Lord a new song – a phrase that we also chanted in the All Saints readings – the Psalmist calls on all creation to join the chorus: The sea and all that is in it, the rivers clap and the hills ring out with joy. God will judge the world with righteousness and its people with equity.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 17:1-9

Confident that he has done no wrong in the face of accusers, the Psalmist echoes the voice of Job as he calls on God to hear his plea of innocence. His prayer comes from lips that do not lie. Inviting God to weigh his heart and melt him down as an assayer judges gold, he is confident that God will be just. “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings,” he prays in the comforting words that we sing in Compline at day’s end.

Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

This second letter to the Greek community in Thessalonika probably came a generation after the first, perhaps around 100 CE, and was surely written in Paul’s name by a later follower. Early Christians had expected that Christ would return very soon. But by this late date, many of them had died, and following generations were clearly hoping for some kind of reassurance, particularly since Christians faced Roman persecution. The author urges them not to be deceived by false teachings of a “lawless one” but to stand firm, remember the Good News, and hold fast to good works and words.

Gospel: Luke 20:27-38

Since our last reading from Luke’s Gospel, we have skipped over several major events, including Jesus’ tumultous arrival in Jerusalem to waving palms. Now we find him debating Torah with a group of Sadducees who try to trip him up: When a man who had seven wives dies and goes to heaven, which of the seven women will be his wife? It may seem that Jesus responds by declaring there is no marriage in heaven, but remember that in this and several other parables in this chapter, Jesus is pushing back against trick questions. Those who die are like angels and children of God, he says. In that context, earthly marriage doesn’t matter.

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 Oct. 23, 2016

First Reading: Joel 2:23-32

We hear a consistent message of hope in our readings today. We hear it in the words of the Prophet Joel, whose short by poetic prophecy probably came after the people returned home from exile. His words of beauty offer comfort and hope: God is with us. Feast will follow famine. God loves us and the spirit will pour out on us. Even his scary prophecy of blood and fire and columns of smoke, darkened sun and bloody moon – apocalyptic images that New Testament writers would adopt to describe the last days – hold no fear for those who call on the name of the Lord.

First Reading (Track Two): Jeremiah 14:7-10,19-22

From Moses to Jonah, Job and beyond, the prophets are not loath to argue with God. The idea of mere mortals pushing back against the Divine might seem strange or even disturbing, but it is a powerful way to emphasize the importance of the prophet’s argument. Ultimately we hear a consistent message of hope in our readings today: Jeremiah acknowledges that the people have done wrong, but mounts a powerful argument that the God who made permanent covenant with the people should bring them back home even after they wandered and sinned.

Psalm 65

This Psalm of thanksgiving for earth’s bounty serves us doubly in this autumn season: It echoes Joel’s assurances that God will provide us life-giving rain and bountiful harvests even after times of trouble and sin. It musters beautiful images of nature and the harvest to depict God’s great bounty. These are words to hold in our hearts as autumn, Thanksgiving and the holiday seasons draw near.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 84:1-6

In poetic metaphors of birds finding safety in their nests, the Psalmist writes a hymn of trust and praise in a loving God who will protect the people and lead them home. God will watch over, favor and honor those who trust in God. As God provides nests for the small birds, so will God provide for us. As God makes pools of water available for thirsty travelers, so will God hear our prayers.

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

The author of Timothy writes Paul’s last testament in beautiful, poetic words that ring through the ages. Knowing that Paul fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith through trials and imprisonment would have been a source of strength to the people of a young church facing Roman persecution. Even when some believers were deserting the cause, this letter called the first Christians to stand strong, proclaim the good news to all the nations, and count on God’s strength and God’s protection.

Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

To clearly hear the message in today’s Gospel, remember that it follows immediately after last Sunday’s narrative about the corrupt judge and the persistent widow who would not leave him along until justice was served. It is good to read the two parables together to get a clear picture of what Jesus wants us to know about prayer. Like the powerful but corrupt judge who fails to prevail against the honest widow, the Pharisee in today’s Gospel fails to exalt himself, while the sinful tax collector went home justified … because his prayer was sincere. Pray without ceasing, but pray honestly, from the heart, and we follow in Jesus’ way.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Oct. 16, 2016

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:27-34

Hear this call through Sunday’s readings: Place your hope in God, and even in the face of challenges, be persistent. Jeremiah again reassures Israel and Judah in exile: Yes, they fully deserved the hard times – the “sour grapes” that have befallen them. But, the prophet foretells, God will forgive the people, make with them a new covenant, and return them home, just as God led their ancestors out of slavery in Egypt.

First Reading (Track Two): Genesis 32:22-31

Hear this call through Sunday’s readings: Place your hope in God, and even in the face of challenges, be persistent. In today’s strange narrative from Genesis, Jacob fights to a draw in a night-long battle with an angel who doesn’t fight quite fairly, yet turns out to be God. This was shocking, because the mere sight of God’s face was believed to be fatal to humans. Not even Moses was allowed to see God face-to-face, but Jacob, now Israel, did.

Psalm 119:97-104

The longest of all the Psalms, Psalm 119 devotes all of its 176 verses to a long, loving celebration of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. The ancients understood Torah as God’s “teaching,” but in translation it is usually rendered God’s “Law.” These verses speak of the people’s persistent efforts to study and learn until God’s teachings are written on their hearts in words as sweet as honey.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 121

This is one of the many Psalms that we love to hear when we or a loved one or friend is in trouble, afraid, looking for help, uncertain where to turn, seeking protection. The Psalmist, not afraid to call on God, cries out, “From where is my help to come?” We look upward, up to the hills, and find comfort in the sure protection of the Creator, who stands on constant watch, never sleeping, protecting us by night and day.

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5

Written decades after the life of Jesus, this late New Testament letter offers hope and firm advice to a Christian community faced with persecution. It calls the people of the young church to “be persistent” about proclaiming the kingdom of God. In good times and hard times alike, they are to “convince, rebuke, and encourage” in the name of Jesus. Does this remind us of the persistent widow we meet in today’s Gospel?

Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

Luke often shows us Jesus slamming the rich and powerful with parables that burn: The dishonest steward! The rich man who died too soon to enjoy his barns full of treasure! The rich young man who couldn’t give away his property, even to save his soul! The rich man who burned in hell while the poor man he wouldn’t help in life now reposes in heavenly comfort! And now we see a corrupt and scheming judge confronted by a persistent widow who will not stop demanding until he finally caves in. What does this mean to us? Jesus tells us at the beginning and the end of today’s Gospel: Pray always and do not lose heart. God will grant justice to the chosen ones who pray by day and night.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013.

First Reading: Lamentations 1:1-6
Cries of suffering and lamentation surely fill today’s readings! What can we do with this? Perhaps our lesson is not to bottle up sad, hurt and angry feelings but to see how we can use them to learn and grow. Lamentations, written in exile in Babylon, poetically imagines the ruins of Jerusalem as a weeping woman recalling happier times. Her princes are weak, her children captive. Her foes have won. Her enemies prosper and – note this well – she believes God brought this suffering because of her wrongdoing.

Psalm: Psalm 137
This ancient hymn of lamentation places the poet in exile – “by the rivers of Babylon” – weeping over Jerusalem and vowing (in words that remain a vivid part of the Passover Seder) never to forget. It is at the horrifying end of this Psalm, though, that we react with visceral shock at the idea of Judah’s warriors joyously smashing innocent babies on the rocks. What can we possibly gain from recalling these awful verses? Perhaps we are meant to see ourselves at our worst, and recognize how badly we can behave when hurt and frustration tempt us to lash out in anger.

First Reading (Track 2): Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4
Pay attention, as this is the only passage that we will hear in the three-year Sunday lectionary cycle from Habakkuk (“Ha-ba-kuk”), one of the 12 “minor prophets” in the First Testament, who lived nearly 700 years before Jesus and who foresaw the destruction and exile of jerusalem. The prophet tells of his frustration that God doesn’t seem to be paying attention to his prophecy. God responds: Write it down. Make it so plain that a runner can read it passing by. Then be patient, be just, and wait for God.

Psalm (Track 2): Psalm 37:1-9
Today’s Psalm fits Habakkuk’s call, beautifully summoning our faith to keep us living in hope even when things aren’t going well. When the world appears dark and it seems that evil surrounds us, the Psalmist reminds us, we can put our faith in God and wait for God with patience and confident trust. Don’t lash back or strike out in anger. These things only lead to evil. But wait patiently, follow God’s ways, and we’ll be rewarded.

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14
Written decades after the death of Paul, this short letter fondly imagines the evangelist writing from prison to his beloved disciple Timothy. It likely came at a time when the young church was suffering persecution, and in that way it mirrors our Lamentations reading and Psalm. Hold onto our faith, even when times are hard; rely on the grace of God given through Jesus.

Gospel: Luke 17:5-10
In Luke’s long story of Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem that we’ve been following for weeks, Jesus seems to throw us one challenge after another. Perhaps these verses are best understood in the context of the verses that come before it, which reinforce Luke’s consistent emphasis that it is not easy to follow Jesus. This short lesson about faith seems to urge us to be humble, be vulnerable, and, metaphorically at least, to be as obedient as slaves when we are called to live and work as Jesus would have us do.