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.

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.