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.

Reflecting on the fourth Sunday after epiphany part 3

Where we have come from: 

readings for Sunday 2nd February (Fourth Sunday after Epiphany)

Micah 6:1-8 

Psalm 15 

I Corinthians 1:18-31 

Matthew 5:1-12 

Readings for Today -  Wed., Feb. 5 

Psalm 37:1-17 

Ruth 3:1-13; 4:13-22 

Luke 6:17-26 

Thought for Today

Today we have more from Ruth - if you have time read the whole story - pick up where we left off yesterday at the end of chapter 2 and read to the end of the book. The reading from Luke's gospel is his version of the beatitudes - part of what is sometimes called the sermon on the plain. The are possibly more hard hitting here, partly because of the categories - the poor, the hungry, and the weeping (compared with poor in spirit, hungry for righteousness, mourning), and partly because of the corresponding 'woes' that follow. What are we to make of these woes? They don't seem to fit with the pictures of Jesus that we often draw for ourselves. What might us especially uncomfortable is that if we have a computer, access to the internet, and time to be writing or reading blogs we might well be in the categories of the woes rather than the blessings. Only God in Christ can turn us around.

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

Reflecting on the fourth sunday after epiphany part 2

Where we have come from: 

readings for Sunday 2nd February (Fourth Sunday after Epiphany)

Micah 6:1-8 

Psalm 15 

I Corinthians 1:18-31 

Matthew 5:1-12 

Readings for Today Tues., Feb. 4 

Psalm 37:1-17 

Ruth 2:1-16 

James 5:1-6 

Thought for Today

the whole book of Ruth is too good to miss bits out. Yesterday's reading only took us to verse 18 of chapter 1, best to read to the end of chapter one and right through to the end of chapter 2 today to keep with the story.

We might find this ancient welfare practice of allowing gleaning does not quite suit our modern sensibilities. Surely it would be demeaning for those concerned. But we need to try to divest ourselves of our modern eyes, and resist making comparisons with the modern welfare state. It was part of a system of caring for those who were in danger of becoming destitute, but obviously was most effective in a agricultural situation. Hundreds of years later James is writing to (probably) Jewish Christians in a (probably) more urban situation. Some of them seem to have forgotten the ancient customs, or found any contemporary equivalent. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness.

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

Reflecting on the fourth sunday after epiphany (part 1)

Where we have come from: 

readings for Sunday 2nd February (Fourth Sunday after Epiphany)

Micah 6:1-8 

Psalm 15 

I Corinthians 1:18-31 

Matthew 5:1-12 

Readings for Today (Mon., Feb. 3)

Psalm 37:1-17 

Ruth 1:1-18 

Philemon 1-25 

Thought for Today

We might view these three readings as case studies in three of the beatitudes. Psalm 37.1-17 a meditation on the meek who will inherit the earth. Ruth as a story of mourning women who nonetheless find God's blessing. And Paul writing a carefully worded letter as a peacemaker between Philemon and Onesimus. 

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

Approaching the fourth sunday after epiphany part 3 (Saturday)

Saturday 1st February 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  Sat., Feb. 1 

Psalm 15 

Micah 3:1-4 

John 13:31-35 

Thought for the day

The reading on Sunday (tomorrow) from Micah is the one containing the well known verse "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" but I wonder how well we know the rest of this little book. This little excerpt from chapter 3 in a way sets the scene for the words we will hear tomorrow: the leaders of the people of Israel have not looked after the people - particularly the vulnerable well. Micah's God's eye view of this is that God is not happy about it. micah uses some very striking language to describe how the people have been treated. When Jesus speaks of loving one another, I am sure he means NOT treating each other with the treatment that Micah denounced in chapter 3 and instead acting according to Micah 6.8

If you have the chance today reading the whole of Micah will give you even more context for Micah 6.6-8.