Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for May 30, 2021

First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

On Pentecost Sunday last week, we heard of the coming of the Holy Spirit in wind and fire. Now we mark Trinity Sunday, pondering the relationship among Creator, Redeemer and Advocate.

In our first reading, we meet another in the Hebrew Bible’s string of reluctant prophets. Like Moses, who objected to his call, saying he could not speak well enough; or Jeremiah, who worried that he was too young, or. Jonah, who simply ran away. In these verses Isaiah fears that his sinfulness – “unclean lips” – disqualifies him for God’s service. But then a mighty angel purifies Isaiah’s lips with a hot coal, whereupon he eagerly accepts God’s call: “Here I am! Send me!”

Psalm: Psalm 29

We heard this Psalm not long ago, on the first Sunday after the Epiphany in January. Now we read it again on the first Sunday after Pentecost. What is the unifying element? Both readings follow on the Sunday after we celebrate a bold manifestation of the divine: Epiphany and Pentecost. At such a time it seems appropriate, as the Psalm commands, to “ascribe to God the glory due God’s name.” The powerful metaphor of a majestic storm reflects the Holy Spirit as a great wind. A storm strong enough to break and spin mighty oaks and cedars, shoot flames, and shake the wilderness might send us running for shelter. But it also has potential to lure us outside to feel the rain and the wind on our faces as the storm rolls past.

Alternative to the Psalm: Canticle 13

Canticles, “little songs,” are scripture passages, other than Psalms, chosen for use in worship in the Book of Common Prayer. Canticle 13 incorporates parts of the “Song of the Three Young Men” who were thrown into the fiery furnace by an angry king. Protected by God, as told in Daniel and the apocryphal Song of Azariah, they survived this ordeal, walking unharmed through the fire and singing this hymn of praise to God and all creation.

Second Reading: Romans 8:12-17

These verses came just before last week’s reading from Romans, in which Paul likened the hope and pain of Christians waiting for salvation to the pain and expectancy of a mother in labor. In these verses that provide context for that reading, we hear Paul building toward that image. He tells of the great gift that we are offered: Accepting life led by the Spirit, we become children of God, just as Jesus is the Son of God. With Jesus we become heirs of God, inspired by the Spirit, knowing that our suffering with Jesus opens us up to being glorified with Jesus.

Gospel: John 3:1-17

Nicodemus, a Pharisee who seems impressed by Jesus, comes to talk with Jesus at night, perhaps to keep his visit secret in the darkness. In their conversation, Nicodemus just can’t get his mind around the idea of being “born again,” a term that in the original Greek might mean “anew,” “again,” “from above,” “in the future,” or even all of those. Nicodemus, in an exchange that the author of John might have intended to draw chuckles from believers, couldn’t figure how a grown person could creep back into the mother’s body to be re-born. But Jesus understood that there is no contradiction between being born of the flesh as an infant and being “born again,” not in the flesh but through faith and the Spirit. The Gospel concludes with the familiar John 3:16, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,” followed by the context of 3:17, “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for May 27, 2018

First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

Last Sunday, on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came in wind and fire. Now as we celebrate Trinity Sunday, we reflect on the relationship among Creator, Redeemer and Advocate. In our first reading, Isaiah sees a vision calling him to be God’s prophet, an image that brings him woe, not joy, for he does not believe that is worthy to see God. He confesses that he is a man of unclean lips among a people of unclean lips, whereupon a seraph cleanses and purifies him with holy fire, touching a coal to the prophet’s lips. Then, hearing God’s call again, Isaiah steps up, no longer held back by feelings of unworthiness.

Psalm 29

We sang this Psalm just a few months ago, on the first Sunday after the Epiphany; and we sing it again now, on the first Sunday after Pentecost. On both occasions, immediately following the celebration of a bold manifestation of the divine, it seems appropriate to “Ascribe due honor to God’s holy name.” The powerful metaphor of a majestic storm offers us insight into the Holy Spirit as a powerful wind. A storm strong enough to break and spin mighty oaks and cedars, shoot flames, and shake the wilderness might send us running for shelter. But it also has potential to lure us outside to feel the rain and the wind on our faces as the storm rolls by.

Alternative to the Psalm: Canticle 13

Canticles, “little songs,” are scripture passages similar in style to Psalms, chosen for use in worship in the Book of Common Prayer. Canticle 13 offers a short portion of the “Song of the Three Young Men” who were thrown into a fiery furnace by angry King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in the book of Daniel and the apocryphal Song of Azariah. Safe under God’s protection, they survived this ordeal, not only walking unharmed through a raging fire but joyfully singing this hymn of glory to God, promising to praise and highly exalt God forever.

Second Reading: Romans 8:12-17

We turn back a page in Romans this week to hear these verses that come just before last week’s reading about Christians groaning in the pain and expectancy of a mother in labor as they wait for salvation. Now we see Paul building toward that image as he describes the great gift that awaits Christians: When we accept a life led by the Spirit, we become children of God, just as Jesus is the Son of God. Like Jesus we become heirs of God. Inspired by the Spirit, we recognize that suffering with Jesus opens us up to being glorified with Jesus.

Gospel: John 3:1-17

Sunday’s Gospel provides us the context to John 3:16 that a simple sign held up in a sports stadium can’t give. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to talk with Jesus by night, hoping no one will see him visiting the controversial rabbi. Nicodemus is curious but bewildered by Jesus’ mysterious language. What does it mean to be “born from above,” or, in some translations, “born again”? Nicodemus just can’t grasp the distinction between being literally born of flesh as an infant and being born of the Holy Spirit in faith. Through the Son, from the Creator, inspired by the Spirit’s restless wind, we come to the Kingdom through a spiritual rebirth in faith and belief.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for May 31, 2015

First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

Prophets, it seems, need to be persuaded. Moses argued with God, objecting that he could not speak well. Jeremiah worried that he was too young. Jonah simply ran away. Now we hear Isaiah fearing that his sinfulness – “unclean lips” – disqualifies him for God’s service. But then a mighty angel purifies Isaiah’s lips with a hot coal. Now Isaiah eagerly accepts God’s call: “Here I am! Send me!” When God calls us, will we look for an excuse, or shout, “Send me”?

Canticle 13

Canticles, “little songs,” are scripture passages, other than Psalms, chosen for use in worship in the Book of Common Prayer. Canticle 13 incorporates parts of the “Song of the Three Young Men” who were thrown into the fiery furnace by an angry king. Protected by God, as recorded in Daniel and the apocryphal Song of Azariah, they survived this ordeal, walking unharmed through the fire and singing this hymn of praise to God and all creation.

Second Reading: Romans 8:12-17\

These verses came just before last week’s reading from Romans, in which Paul likened the hope and pain of Christians waiting for salvation to the pain and expectancy of a mother in labor. Here we see Paul building toward that image, telling us of the great gift that we are offered: By accepting life led by the Spirit, we become children of God, just as Jesus is the Son of God. With Jesus we become heirs of God, inspired by the Spirit, knowing that our suffering with Jesus opens us up to being glorified with Jesus.

Gospel: John 3:1-17

Our Gospel reading returns to that familiar verse, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” Today, we hear it in context with the narrative that leads up to it. Using language that bewilders Nicodemus, a leader of the Pharisees, Jesus says we must be “born from above” in order to see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus can’t figure out how that works. How can an adult return to a mother’s womb? But Jesus means something completely different: Through the Son, from the Creator, inspired by the Spirit’s restless wind, we come to the Kingdom through a spiritual rebirth in faith and belief.