Approaching the 4th sunday after epiphany - part 2

Friday 31st January 2014

Where we are headed:

readings for Sunday -  Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 

Micah 6:1-8 

Psalm 15 

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 

Matthew 5:1-12 

Readings for Today

Thurs., Jan. 30 

Fri., Jan. 31 

Psalm 15 

Deuteronomy 24:17—25:4 

1 Timothy 5:17-24

Thought for the day

As the saying goes "if I had a pound for every..." Well, I suspect that if I had a penny for every page written on these words from I Timothy I would be a rich man. Most of them have been written by people in my tradition trying to make sense of the 'plural' ministry left to us by the Swiss Reformation. I'm certainly not going to weigh in to the discussion here! Instead I am more interested in the theme of justice that is developing from our readings yesterday and today as we move toward Sunday. Justice in all our dealings with other human beings. That includes how we function in the church, and how those with important ministries, lay and ordained, paid and voluntary, part time and full time, work together to help the whole community of the church be kingdom orientated. But, if we never get further than that, we are falling short. 'Do not muzzle the ox' in Deuteronomy is part of a sequence of verses yearning for justice in interpersonal relationships. And, the most startling thing for us, in an age of austerity and drives for efficiency - is the command to stop short of being 100% efficient, for the sake of the poor. So where in our lives might a little less efficiency and a little more generosity be transformative for those around us?

Approaching the fourth Sunday after Epiphany (Thursday 30th January 2014)

Thursday 30th January 2014

Where we are headed:

readings for Sunday -  Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 

Micah 6:1-8 

Psalm 15 

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 

Matthew 5:1-12 

Readings for Today

Thurs., Jan. 30 

Psalm 15 

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

1 Peter 3:8-12 

Thought for the day

Wow - what a world if we could only live like this. Speaking the truth, avoiding slander, and living peacefully, honestly, justly and with generosity. We know full well that we cannot meet the psalmists standards, we cannot of ourselves ascend the mountain of the Lord. But we can do so at the invitation of Jesus, purged by his cross, in the strength of the spirit. And then just maybe we can begin to rise to challenge of the lifestyle set out in these three readings. These values may be rare in the world, they may have been absent in our lives to date, but we can begin the process of transforming them. And then despite the folly and chaos and bribery present in the world, the Kingdom of God might just be visible.

reflecting on the third sunday after epiphany

Wednesday 29th January


Where we have come from: 
readings for Third Sunday after Epiphany
Isaiah 9:1-4
Psalm 27:1, 4-9
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Matthew 4:12-23

Tuesday 28th January

Psalm 27:7-14 

Judges 7:12-22 

Philippians 2:12-18 

 readings for today

Psalm 27:7-14 

Genesis 49:1-2, 8-13, 21-26 

Luke 1:67-79 

thought for the day.

A curious combination: Jacob's words to two of his sons, and the song of Zechariah which we often know as the Benedictus. As an old man Jacob passes the last of his wisdom over to all his sons, in some he sees God's promise, in others more worrying possibilities. For the full picture read the whole chapter. Perhaps the enduringly surprising thing is that the oldest brothers - Reuben, Simeon and Levi, are to and passed over and the covenant promise is to be maintained primarily through Judah with a supporting role from Joseph.

The words of the benedictus are a clear link between old testament and new, in a sense they are part of the trajectory from Jacob's words for Judah, leading to Jesus's death and resurrection for the world. Many Christians say these words every day - you can perhaps see why.

Reflecting on the third sunday after Epiphany

Monday 27th January


Where we have come from: 
readings for Third Sunday after Epiphany 
Isaiah 9:1-4 
Psalm 27:1, 4-9 
1 Corinthians 1:10-18 
Matthew 4:12-23 

readings for today

Psalm 27:7-14 

Judges 6:11-24 

Ephesians 5:6-14 

thought for the day.

Ever year the sunday readings towards the end of February (the 2nd and 3rd after Epiphany), help is reflect on Call. The call on Jesus, and on the disciples, and indeed on us. We are all inclined to be like Gideon, casting doubt on God's presence in the world, making excuses and looking for signs. We all need to hear the encouraging words from Ephesians, challenging us, again, to wake up and rise from the dead in response to the call that God issues to us.

As an aside - interesting that today's psalm is the same one used on Sunday, and for thursday - saturday next week, just different, but overlapping, verses. How does it feel dipping into Psalm 27 in a different way? Perhaps we should tray reading Psalm 27 in its entirety over the next few days.

Friday 24th January
Where we are heading, readings for Sunday 26th January (Revised Common Lectionary)

 Third Sunday after Epiphany 

Isaiah 9:1-4 

Psalm 27:1, 4-9 

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 

Matthew 4:12-23 

 

Readings for today

 

Fri., Jan. 24
Psalm 27:1-6
1 Samuel 9:27—10:8
Galatians 2:1-10

 

Thought for the day

Thursday 23rd January 2013

Thursday 23rd January
Where we are heading, readings for Sunday 26th January (Revised Common Lectionary)


Readings for today

 Third Sunday after Epiphany 

Isaiah 9:1-4 

Psalm 27:1, 4-9 

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 

Matthew 4:12-23 

 Thurs., Jan. 23 

Psalm 27:1-6 

1 Samuel 1:1-20 

Galatians 1:11-24 

Thought for the day

One of the themes of last Sunday and this coming Sunday is is 'call:' the call of God on the suffering servant to save the world and consequently the call of God on the first disciples, and you and I to an abundant life of service in the Kingdom of God.

This familiar old testament story is about a boy who is being called to service before he was born, before he was conceived even. In the extended Christian family I am part of this is a challenging story today as a boy, named Samuel with thought and care, was buried last week after being reunited with God at a few days old. His family would say that this tiny baby fulfilled his call in the joy he brought to those that met him.

If we truly believe in the God of the Bible then we too, whatever our circumstances, wherever and whenever we knew God's voice, were also called long before we were conscious of it. And maybe, like Samuel and Samuel, before we were born.