reflecting on the 30th Sunday in ordinary time part 2 - Tues., Oct. 27

Psalm 119:41-48

 Exodus 34:29-35

 James 2:14-26

It is part of our way of live that governments make laws and citizens keep them to a greater or lesser instead. In fact some of us (many of us maybe all of us) try to bend the law slightly to suit our own circumstance.

In our present situation  new laws, or at least government restrictions, are happening all the time and it would seem that many of us have grown tired of trying to live within them and we are always pushing the boundary of what we should do. In short we find that these laws and guidelines limit our freedom. And our freedom is a precious thing.

Our psalm bears testimony to a counter cultural idea: that keeping law, specifically god's law, brings freedom. And we hear of Moses face shining like the sun after he has received the second set of tables in God's presence.

Often, the tricky thing is working out God's command for us. But James gives us a straightforward example: feed your brother or sister. Let us give thanks for all the many people who have been doing just that in recent months and are ready to continue through the winter.

 Reflecting on the 30th Sunday in ordinary time part 1

Mon., Oct. 26

Psalm 119:41-48 Numbers 33:38-39 James 2:8-13

James has a thing about favouritism or in some translations 'partiality'. It is a message with enduring impact because we know that favouritism is everywhere in our world. Sometimes unconscious, sometimes seemingly planned, sometimes even completely cynical.

We probably all know where we think we have 'lost out' because of someone else's favouritism.

But I wonder how often we ponder how often we are guilty of it, or even of unconscious bias.

James is also keen on showing mercy in God's name: we are called to show mercy on those we would look over or diminish in pursuance of our own interests.

 Approaching the 30th Sunday in ordinary time

Readings for Saturday 24th October 2020 (From RCL daily lectionary)

Psalm 90: 1-6, 13-17 (but read the whole psalm from beginning to end as the readings are short)

Deuteronomy 32:44-47

John 5:39-47

After finishing the son and before climbing mount Nebo Moses reflections on the words he has given to the people of Israel. they are not just idle words, they bring life. Jesus chastises the pharisees for searching the scriptures in the hope of find life, but not noticing Life in front of them.

The opening of John's gospel claims that Jesus is God's Word who brings life. How then will we relate to this to God's word that is the scripture? especially those book we call the Old Testament?

The words on the pages of our bibles are not just idle words nor are they a cypher that must be read with increasing subtlety to find something. When read daily and prayerfully under the Holy Spirt they become part of us and help us to find the Word for today that will enable us be disciples of Jesus living as God called us to be.

 Approaching the 30th Sunday in ordinary time

Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 

Deuteronomy 32:1-14, 18 

Ititus 2:7-8, 11-15

Today we have two readings connected to leadership. From Deuteronomy we have the first part of the Song of Moses, a poem in the mouth of that great leader as he stands on the brink of the Jordan to usher the children of Israel into the promised land (though he will not cross himself). And from the little letter to Titus we have an exhortation about the kind of character he is expected to model as a leader.

You might like to ponder on issues of leadership today as the dust settles on the final presidential election debate in the US. What kind of leaders do we seek? and what leadership role might you be called to undertake in whatever sphere?

reflecting on the fifth sunday after epiphany part 1

Where we have come from: 

readings for Sunday Feb. 9 - Fifth Sunday after Epiphany 

Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12] 

Psalm 112:1-9 [10] 

I Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16] 

Matthew 5:13-20 

Readings for Today -  Monday, Feb. 10 

Psalm 119:105-112 

II Kings 22:3-20 

Romans 11:2-10 

Thought for Today

Hilkiah find the book of the law in the temple of the Lord (often identified as Deuteronomy), the psalmist sings the praises of that law, but Paul reflects on how hard it is to live by it and the extent to which Israel has tried on failed. God's law, which we can regard chiefly as the ten commandments, is at the same time straightforward and difficult to understand and to live by. Chastened by this knowledge we are left with throwing ourselves on God's mercy shown in Jesus.

As an aside - the story from 2 Kings has the marvellous detail that Josiah did not require any accounting from those working on the temple, because they were trustworthy. It would make life, including church life, so much simpler if we could be trusted, and if we could bring ourselves to trust others.

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission.

Approaching the fifth sunday in ordinary time part 3

Where we are heading: 

readings for Sunday 9th February (Fifth Sunday after Epiphany)

Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12] 

Psalm 112:1-9 [10] 

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16] 

Matthew 5:13-20 

Readings for  Fri., Feb. 7

Psalm 112:1-9 [10] 

Isaiah 29:1-12 

James 3:13-18 

Readings for today  - Sat., Feb. 8

Psalm 112:1-9 [10] 

Isaiah 29:13-16 

Mark 7:1-8 

Thought for Today

Is our worship of God genuine? Is it from the heart, sincere? Or is it sometimes going through the motions - following human rules. Isaiah's analysis of the shallow nature of much of human worship of God is sincere and thorough. Jesus quotes only a few lines, but I think his original hearers would have understood much more (as an aside, the reason that there is a small difference between the words of the quote in Mark and in most english translations of Isaiah is that Mark in his editing uses the Septuagint).

The challenge for us is to spend less time looking at 'other christians' and criticising where they seem to be following too many 'human customs,' and instead examine ourselves. Whatever our Christian tradition, however we worship on Sundays and through the week - is that worship sincere? Can we confess our shortcomings before God honestly, and ask to be transformed?

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission.

Approaching the fifth sunday after epiphany part 1

Where we are heading: 

readings for Sunday 9th February (Fifth Sunday after Epiphany)

 Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12] 

Psalm 112:1-9 [10] 

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16] 

Matthew 5:13-20 

Readings for Today  - Thurs., Feb. 6

Psalm 112:1-9 [10] 

Deuteronomy 4:1-14 

1 John 5:1-5 

Thought for Today

The brackets represent 'longer forms' of the readings, or optional verses. My instinct would always be to read them, and, as I am a suspicious soul, to try to guess why the lectionary compliers have made them optional!

Both the psalmist and John seem to be regard living the covenant, old or new as not burdensome, as possible. That one can truly keep the obey the law given through Moses or the commands of Jesus. I think most of it find it more of a struggle. Perhaps what they mean is that it is not necessary at the end of the day to learn and remember a long legal code. In that way it is not burdensome. But rather we are invite to follow and to imitate a person. As we do so we will grow in righteousness. But does that really mean we will be rewarded by being so confident in our blessing that no bad news will come? Perhaps rather it means that the depth of our character means that what ever bad news arrives we will be able to cope with it in God's strength - and so need not fear.

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission.