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.

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.