Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for July 14, 2024 (Pentecost 8B/Proper 10)

Feast of Herod with the Beheading of St John the Baptist (1633), oil painting on canvas by Bartholomeus Strobel (c.1630-1643). Prado Museum, Madrid. (Click image to enlarge.)

First Reading (Track One): 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

King David’s story in Second Samuel continues. David now reigns over the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah. It is a moment for joy as the Ark of the Covenant, which had been in the hands of the Philistine enemies, returns to Jerusalem. This portable shrine, which the people had built in the desert as a holy throne for God, stood at the heart of Israel’s worship. Its return was greeted with celebration, music and dancing; David himself leaped and danced with all his might. In one curious verse, though, we discover that Saul’s wife, Michal, saw him dancing and “despised him in her heart.” What was that about? Later verses suggest that Michal didn’t think that David was decently dressed during his dance in front of all the people of Israel.

First Reading (Track Two): Amos 7:7-15

As the Prophet Amos and John the Baptist each learned from experience, prophesying can get you in trouble even though you’re simply repeating God’s message. Amos, a humble shepherd and sycamore tender, never expected to become a prophet. But when God called him to warn Israel’s leaders that their God had measured them and found them wanting, Amos responded. When Amos warned King Amaziah to expect destruction and exile, the angry king told Amos to get out of his sight, to go back where he came from. Amos learned, as John the Baptist would discover some six centuries later, that prophecy was dangerous and could get him killed. But both prophets heard God’s call and could not refuse.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 24

Psalm 24 is one of the many that tradition attributes to King David himself. It was likely intended as a processional chant to be sung responsively as the priests and congregation approached the Temple. The priest calls out, “And who shall stand in his holy place? Who has the right to come in and worship?” “Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,” the crowd sings back, awaiting the protection of God, the King of Glory, creator of the earth and all that is in it.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 85:8-13

This beautiful passage from Psalm 85 offers us a gentle pause between the anger in Amos and the violence of John the Baptist’s death. God will speak peace to the people; the faithful people will hear peace. When Heaven and Earth meet in truth and righteousness, righteousness and peace share a tender kiss. God grants prosperity and a fruitful harvest, truth springs up, and righteousness goes before.

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14

After almost two months reading through Second Corinthians, our second readings now turn to the letter to the Ephesians for the next six weeks. A letter most likely written to the people of Ephesus in Paul’s name by a later follower around the end of the first century, it addresses an early Christian community that faced persecution. Some of its chapters include difficult passages (which we won’t hear in our Lectionary readings) that urge wives to submit to their husbands and slaves to obey their owners. Today’s reading, though, from the introductory verses, focuses on grace as God’s free gift through Jesus. We also catch a glimpse of an evolving theology: that Christ was present with God even before the creation of the Earth.

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

When King Herod learned about the healings and miracles that Jesus and his apostles were performing in Galilee, he was both angry and afraid. In a quick Gospel flashback, Mark recalls the gory story about how Herod, at the insistence of his new wife and her daughter, ordered John beheaded and his head brought in on a platter. Now rumors are swirling about Jesus and his healing and teaching. Is he Elijah? Or a new prophet? Herod himself wonders, fearfully musing, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for July 18, 2021

First Reading (Track One): 2 Samuel 7:1-14a

Our Track One first readings will continue following the life and acts of King David through mid-August, when we will turn to David’s son, Solomon.

The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes (1886-1896). Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper by James Tissot (1836-1902). The Brooklyn Museum. (Click image to enlarge.)

In Sunday’s reading David, having consolidated Israel and Judah under his rule, becomes concerned about the people’s long-standing custom of keeping the Ark of the Covenant in a tent. This practice, he believes, is not sufficient to reflect the greatness of God. David decides to build a great temple, but God, speaking through the Prophet Nathan, dismisses this idea. God tells Nathan that God’s home is with the House of David, the dynasty of God’s people. It will later fall to Solomon to build the first temple.

First Reading (Track Two): Jeremiah 23:1-6

The image of a shepherd as metaphor for a caring leader who protects the flock recurs in several of our Track Two readings. First we hear the prophet Jeremiah speaking fierce truth to the power of Babylon, which had destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and was holding many of the people in exile. God is going to round up the remnant of his scattered flock and bring them home like a shepherd with his flock, the prophet declares, and the oppressors will be punished for their evil. Soon, the prophet adds, God will restore the glory of the lost kingdom, raising up a mighty new king like David.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 89:20-37

Our Track One Psalm portion follows the first reading with a celebration of God’s covenant with David and his descendants: God made this royal family to endure forever. David’s line will last even through the devastation of war and the pain of exile, the Psalmist sings. David’s line will remain even through God’s wrath when the nation breaks its covenant with God. The people’s iniquities might bring punishment, the rod and the lash, but their actions will never take away God’s love nor prevent the rise of a new David, Messiah and King.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 23

Our Lectionary rarely goes long without repeating the beloved 23rd Psalm. We come back to it five times in the three-year cycle of readings, allowing us to rest in the glow of its assurance that God’s goodness and mercy are always with us. If you’re feeling lost or uneasy, consider reading the 23rd Psalm in prayer: Sit quietly. Say the verses once or twice. Breathe deeply and relax. Close your eyes, and try to feel the comforting presence of the Shepherd. Stay with it silently, and be thankful for God’s restoring grace.

Second Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22

The author of the letter to the Ephesians seeks to assure formerly Gentile Christians in this small community that they are fully invested in the community, completely united with their Jewish Christian sisters and brothers without any need to follow Jewish law. All have become one through Christ Jesus, the cornerstone, who brings near even those who were once far away. At the time of this writing, late in the first century after the fall of the Temple, Jewish Christianity and rabbinic Judaism were splitting apart. The early church was actively seeking to bring in Gentile converts, and it was important to emphasize the truth that all had become one in Christ.

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

In the Gospel for the Sunday before last, we heard Jesus sending his disciples out in pairs to heal the sick, cast out demons, and teach the good news. Now they’ve returned home, eager to talk about their mission. Perhaps they’re worn out, too, as Jesus invites them go in the boat to a quiet place to rest. But the crowds following Jesus are too eager to wait, so they follow like a herd of sheep, and Jesus feels a shepherd’s compassion for them. Later, after the Lectionary skips over the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus and the apostles cross over the water and land at Gennesaret, where another large flock comes running to see Jesus. Of course this loving shepherd willingly touches and heals all who come.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for July 15, 2018

Salome with the Head of John the Baptist (1506-1507), oil painting by Andrea Solario (c.1465-c.1520). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. (Click image to enlarge.)

King David, now reigning over the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, celebrates at the arrival in Jerusalem of the Ark of the Covenant. This shrine that the people had built in the desert as a holy throne for God was a central part of Israel’s worship. Its arrival was met with great celebration, music and dancing; David himself leaped and danced with all his might. In one curious, verse, though, we hear that David’s wife, Michal, saw him dancing and “despised him in her heart.” What was up with that? Later verses suggest that Michal, the daughter of Saul and sister of Jonathan, both of whom had recently died, didn’t think that David was decently dressed during his dance in front of all the people of Israel.

First Reading (Track Two): Amos 7:7-15

As the Prophet Amos and John the Baptist both learned, prophesying can get you in trouble, even when you’re just repeating God’s message. Amos, a humble shepherd and sycamore tender, never expected to become a prophet. But he responded when God called him to warn Israel’s leaders that their God had measured them and found them wanting. When Amos warned King Amaziah to expect destruction and exile, the angry King told Amos to get out of his sight, to go back where he came from. Amos learned, as John the Baptist would discover some six centuries later, that prophecy was dangerous and could get him killed. But both heard God’s call and could not refuse.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 24

Today’s Psalm, one of the many that tradition attributes to King David himself, is thought to have been intended as a processional chant as the priests and congregation approach the Temple. The priest calls out, “And who shall stand in his holy place? Who has the right to come in and worship? “Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,” the crowd sings back, awaiting the protection of God, the King of Glory, creator of the earth and all that is in it. (We’ll hear this Psalm again on All Saints Day this year.)

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 85:8-13

This beautiful Psalm segment offers a gentle pause between the anger in Amos and the violence of John the Baptist’s death. God will speak peace to the people; the faithful people will hear peace. When Heaven and earth meet in truth and righteousness, righteousness and peace share a tender kiss. God grants prosperity and a fruitful harvest, truth springs up, and righteousness goes before.

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14

After almost two months with Second Corinthians, our second readings now turn for the next six weeks to the letter to the Ephesians. A letter most likely written to the people of Ephesus in Paul’s name by a later follower around the end of the first century, it speaks to an early Christian community that faced persecution. Some of its chapters include “difficult” passages (which we won’t hear in our readings this year) that urge wives to submit to their husbands and slaves to obey their owners. Today’s reading, though, from the introductory verses, focus on grace as God’s free gift through Jesus. We also catch a glimpse of an evolving theology that Christ was present with God even before the creation of the Earth.

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

When evil King Herod learned about the healings and miracles that Jesus and his apostles were performing up in Galilee, he was likely both angry and afraid. In a quick Gospel flashback, Mark recalls the gory story about Herod, at the insistence of his new wife and her daughter, ordering John beheaded and his head brought in on a platter. Now that rumors are swirling about Jesus and his activity in Galilee, people are wondering if Jesus is John, brought back to life. Herod is afraid. “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

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 July 19. 2015

The Prophet Jeremiah, Greek Orthodox icon.

Before we reach the Good Shepherd in today’s Psalm and Mark’s verses about the “sheep without a shepherd” in the Gospel, the Prophet Jeremiah reminds us that, counter to the image of God as loving shepherd, there are bad shepherds who would destroy the flock and send its sheep running away. God will attend to these evildoers, the prophet says, envisioning the Temple restored on Mount Zion and a successor seated on King David’s throne. Then the sheep will be gathered in when the people return to Jerusalem.

Psalm: Psalm 23

If you think we’ve heard this beloved Psalm recently, you are correct. Our Lectionary readings return to it often – five times in the three-year cycle – perhaps because it is so popular in its assurance that God’s goodness and mercy are always with us. If you’re feeling lost or uneasy, try using the 23rd Psalm in prayer: Sit quietly. Say the verses once or twice. Breathe deeply and relax. Close your eyes, and try to feel the comforting presence of the Shepherd. Sit with it for a while and be thankful for God’s restoring grace.

Second Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22

The author of the letter to the Ephesians takes pains to assure both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians that all have become one through Christ Jesus, the cornerstone, who brings near even those who were far away. The context here is that Christianity was actively gathering in Gentile converts when this letter was being written, and it was important to emphasize that all were one in Christ.

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Do you remember Mark’s Gospel, two Sundays past, when Jesus sent his disciples out in pairs to heal and to teach the good news? Now they’re back, full of stories about their mission, and bone-weary, too. They go off in the boat to rest, but the eager crowds follow them, and Jesus can’t help responding, because these sheep needed a shepherd. Then (after we skip over two stories that aren’t read today), they land on the other side. The people there, too, come running like a huge flock of sheep to see Jesus, and he willingly touches and heals all who come.