Approaching the eleventh Sunday in ordinary time (part 1).

Where we are heading to (readings for Sunday Jun 16):

2 Samuel 11.26 - 12.10, 13-5

Psalm 32

Galatians 2:15-21

Luke 7:36 - 8.3

Readings for today:

Psalm 32

2 Samuel 13.23-39

James 4.1-7

Brief thoughts for today:

Our reading from samuel takes us back, back to the saga at the beginning of last week where we learned about Absolom's return from exile. Today we hear him cause Amnon's death as revenge for the rape of Tamar. This is an all too human story - there does not appear to much of God in it. Sometimes the rivalry between David's sons ( and their mothers- david's wives) to be David's heir on the throne of Israel is called the succession narrative. Here Amnon is obviously taken out of the running, but maybe Absolom, by his actions, is too. Odd though it might seem, since Solomon is God's choice for the throne, perhaps his hand is in these gory events somehow.
James encourages an altogether different standard of living, asking us to put aside behaviour that covets or grasps what we can't have. Instead we should trust in God to give us more grace.

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