Illuminations on the Lectionary readings for July 31, 2022 (Pentecost 8C)

First Reading (Track One): Hosea 11:1-11

“Do not store up treasures for yourselves without being rich toward God.” Hold Jesus’ warning to the rich fool in Sunday’s Gospel in your thoughts as we hear the day’s other Lectionary readings.

In our Track One first reading, we return to Hosea, an early prophet who wrote around 750 BCE, probably following soon after Amos, whose dire warnings we heard earlier this month. Hosea, too, warns of the coming destruction of Israel, the Northern Kingdom, if its people don’t return to their covenant with God. In beautiful imagery that contrasts sharply with last week’s reading, Hosea envisions Israel as a child, with God as a loving but perhaps exasperated parent. The parent knows that the misbehaving offspring deserves punishment, but won’t give up on them entirely. Eventually they will come home to a happy reunion.

First Reading (Track Two): Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23

“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” ​In reflecting on this familiar passage in the mysterious book of Ecclesiastes,​ ​think of “vanity” in the sense of the original Hebrew word: “breath” or “vapor,” something barely visible that veils the light. We spend our lives futilely toiling under the scorching sun in pursuit of something that we can’t grasp, the poet sings: “chasing after wind.” The first-person narrator, “I, the Teacher” (“Qohelet” in Hebrew), is traditionally understood as King Solomon. But the book was almost certainly written centuries after Solomon’s time, long after the people’s return from exile, and some modern scholars see a feminine aspect in Qoholet.

Psalm (Track One): Psalm 107:1-9, 43

The Israelites returning from exile might have sung a hymn like Psalm 107, which our New Revised Standard Edition titles, “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, take note of the phrase in Verse 9, “the hungry [God] fills with good things”? The Magnificat, the song of Mary, uses those same words as Mary thanks God for choosing her as the mother of Jesus.

Psalm (Track Two): Psalm 49:1-11

The selected portion of Psalm 49 touches on similar ideas as the parable of the foolish rich man in the Gospel for the day. The Psalmist scorns the wickedness and stupidity of those who trust in their riches. Biblical ideas like this surely formed Jesus and his mother, Mary, who often expressed hope that the hungry would be filled up and the rich sent away empty. “We can never ransom ourselves, or deliver to God the price of our life,” the Psalmist sings, calling out to high and low, to rich and poor alike.

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-11

In the last of our four readings from Colossians this season, the author continues his instruction to the new believers in the ancient church at Colossae, reminding them that once Christ is revealed in our lives, we are called to put away evil ways and clothe ourselves in a new life in Christ. In words resembling Paul’s invitation to the Galatians to put away all differences among humankind, the author reminds us that “there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!”

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

“You can’t take it with you.” Jesus’ parable of the foolish rich man, which we hear only in Luke’s Gospel, shares this simple homespun folk wisdom. The rich man’s land produced such a large crop that he wants to build larger barns to store it in. With all this wealth in hand, he plans to “relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God responds with grim, unexpected news: The man will die that very night, having no use for all the cherished goods. Jesus, whose constant theme centers on bringing good news for the poor, shows little patience with those who think only about their own wealth and comfort.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Aug. 4, 2019

First Reading (Track One): Hosea 11:1-11

Last Sunday we heard the opening verses of the prophet Hosea, an angry and startling accusation about Israel’s unrighteous path to destruction if its people don’t return to following God’s commandments.

Now, toward the end of the book, Hosea turns from anger to the softer tone of beautiful imagery. Now he envisions Israel as a child, and God as a loving but exasperated parent. God knows that the misbehaving offspring deserve punishment but isn’t willing to give up on them entirely. God’s heart recoils when Israel turns away, but God’s compassion grows warm and tender. Eventually the children will come home to a happy reunion.

First Reading (Track Two): Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23

“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” ​In reflecting on this familiar passage in the mysterious book of Ecclesiastes,​ ​think of “vanity” in the sense of the original Hebrew word: “breath” or “vapor,” something barely visible that veils the light. We spend our lives futilely toiling under the scorching sun in pursuit of something that we can’t grasp, the poet sings: “chasing after wind.” The first-person narrator, “I, the Teacher” (Qohelet in Hebrew) ,is traditionally understood as King Solomon, but the book was almost certainly written long after the people’s return from exile, centuries after Solomon.

Psalm: (Track One): Psalm 107:1-9, 43

The people returning home from exile might have sung a hymn like this one, hailing God’s compassion despite Israel’s ingratitude. Three times in nine verses the people praise God’s steadfast love, a poignant Hebrew word – “chesed” – that connotes compassion, faithfulness, kindness, mercy, and grace. Take special note of Verse 9, praising God who gives drink to the hungry and fills the hungry with good things, a duty that we hear again in the Magnificat, the song of Mary, and in Jesus’ words in Matthew 25.

Psalm: (Track Two): Psalm 49:1-11

Foreshadowing the parable of the foolish rich man in today’s Gospel, we hear a Psalm that shouts out the foolishness of trust in riches. High or low, rich or poor, we can never ransom ourselves or deliver to God the price of our life, the Psalmist sings. We can never earn enough to ransom our lives when our time comes. No one has enough riches to buy life forever, never seeing the grave. Rich or poor, wise or dull and stupid, all together come to the grave.

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-11

In our fourth and final week with the letter to the Colossians, the author proclaims that once Christ is revealed in our lives, we are called to put away evil ways and clothe ourselves in a new life in Christ. In words similar to Paul’s invitation to the Galatians to put away all differences among humankind, we are reminded that “there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free.” 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. Yet God calls him a fool, and it’s not hard to see the reasons why. Most obviously, the rich man failed to consider that we never know when we’ll die. He focused his life on saving for a future that he’ll never see. Even more important, he was greedy. He never gave a thought to others. He did not love his neighbors as himself. 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.

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 Sunday, June 30, 2013.

First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-2,6-14
Bible trivia question: Besides Jesus, who got into heaven still wearing an earthly body? Today’s reading tells us the prophet Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire; and the Apocrypha say the prophet Enoch was “taken up,” too. In the Transfiguration we see Moses joining Elijah in a shining body with Jesus; and modern Catholic doctrine holds that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was “assumed” bodily into heaven. While we’re reading this passage, think about the challenge of Elisha taking over the prophet’s job when his predecessor, Elijah, moves on. This may offer food for thought in church communities about to change or recently having changed rectors, saying farewell to the old and preparing to greet the new.

Psalm: Psalm 77
We have had a lot of noisy thunderstorms and pounding rains lately. It is easy to imagine the Psalmist’s thoughts as he wrote about clouds pouring out water, thunder crashing, the earth shaking, and God’s lightning arrows lighting up the world! Troubled, worried by night, seeking comfort for his soul but finding none, the Psalmist imagines God’s power in the storm and remembers how God gently led God’s flock.

Second Reading: Galatians 5:1,13-25
Paul’s letter to the Galatians continues, as he hammers home the point that God’s covenant with Israel now extends through Christ to Jew and Gentile alike. The law of that covenant, he reminds us, is to love our neighbors as ourselves, not to “bite and devour” one another.” The Spirit joins us with our neighbors in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Gospel: Luke 9:51-62
These verses from Luke show us a side of Jesus that we might not like to see. Come, follow him, with such urgency that you must leave your dead father un-buried? Rush off without bidding your family farewell? This is certainly a demanding call! What’s going on? Take another look at the first verse we read today: “… he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” Jesus’s final journey has begun, and everything now focuses on his coming death and resurrection. Nothing else, not even family, can take priority.