Lectionary Texts For January 31, 2010
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Hebrew Bible: Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalter: Psalm 71:1-6
Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Gospel Lesson: Luke 4:21-30
Oh my. Our gospel lesson from last week featured Jesus reading from the scroll of Isaiah and everyone thought well of him. But, this week, look out! Jesus steps into the prophetic role and it isn’t pretty. When most people think of prophets, they think of someone who can forcast the future. But, that is not what the word nabi in Hebrew means. A nabi is someone who speaks on behalf of God, and has a message to deliver. Yes, it may have future ramifications. But, the primary job of a prophet is to speak the word of God to a situation which is:
1. Idolatrous
2. Unhealthy
3. Destructive
4. Unloving
5. Not righteous
The lesson from Jeremiah reminds us that God called him to speak the truth and that God had put his words in Jeremiah’s mouth, and for him not to be afraid. Those who know Jeremiah well, know that after being battered in his ministry (literally, by Pashur the priest, having been put in stocks, and finally in a dry cistern) he spoke these words to God in the 20th chapter: “You have deceived me, and I was deceived.” (verse 7). The Hebrew really comes across as “seduced.” Jeremiah was not the only prophet who suffered violence because he carried out God’s commands. Micah did. And, in Luke 4 today, so does Jesus. His offense was to remind the folks of his hometown, Nazareth, that God’s love for the human race was greater than a love given simply to Israel. That literally set everyone’s teeth on edge, enraged them, and put them in the mind of throwing Jesus off a cliff. So much for the hometown boy who made good.
Then, as we look at Paul’s famous “love” chapter, it becomes pretty obvious that our “love” falls incredibly short of what it needs to be. And Paul, too, suffered for his witness for Christ. So, “Who wants to be a prophet?” There are those who believe that true prophets no longer exist. Based on the 4th chapter of Ephesians, it would appear that that position is erroneous. But, who in the world would want that role? It leads to death. It leads to a Cross. And most pastors know that if they speak the truth too boldly, it will cause descension, even if their words need to open wounds, correct, encourage, guide, and teach. Its just not easy. Maybe that’s why so few want to enter ministry. Its a tough calling. And though we love our people, even when we don’t always agree, we will take our lumps. But, if we do it for Jesus, and the Kingdom grows, it might just be worth it.
My own personal list of prophets includes:
Men
1. Francis of Assisi
2. Martin Luther
3. John Wesley
4. William Wilberforce
5. Desmond Tutu
6. Peter Storey
7. Martin Luther King, Jr.
8. Bishop Woodie White
9. Lech Walesa
10. Pope John Paul II
Women
1. Mary, the mother of Jesus
2. Clare of Assisi
3. Rosa Parks
4. Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
5. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Obviously, this list isn’t complete. All of us could add a whole lot more names. If you have someone whom you consider to be prophet, please post a blog response.
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Lectionary Texts for the 3rd Sunday After the Epiphany, January 24.
Hebrew Bible: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalter: Psalm 19
Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Gospel Lesson: Luke 4:14-21
In our lessons today three share a common theme: hearing the Word. Nehemiah speaks of this, as does Psalm 19 as it bears witness to God’s voice in creation, with creation “speaking” loudly and persistently of God’s presence. Jesus’ reading of Isaiah demonstrates something which happens in congregations every Sunday: the reading and hearing of God’s Word. The epistle lesson, from Paul in 1st Corinthians 12 is part of a larger segment, addressing the issue of gifts given in every body of believers to be used for the glory of God and for building one another up in order to carry out ministry together, together being the operant word. Paul, then in 12:31 says, “But earnesly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” And this transitional verse leads us into Paul’s great teaching on sacrificial love.
Why is it that we have such a hard time hearing? What attitudes, “lenses,” life experiences, biases, or just plain old fashioned “sins,” cause us not to hear? Sometimes we just don’t “wanna” listen to God. God’s ways are not always convenient, and are often costly. (And I am not thinking of money, here. But, hey! No congregation can operate long without money, time, energy, commitment and people working together). Perhaps it would be wise for us to ask on this 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany, “What did it take for me to hear God’s Word?” And, it might be wise to ask, “Am I open to hearing that Word, now, and putting it into practice?” If we are open to hearing, and putting our faith into practice, then Christ will be revealed to us all the more. And won’t that be an epiphany?
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Lectionary Texts for 1st Sunday of the Epiphany
Hebrew Bible: Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
We are in the season called “epiphany.” The word epiphany in Greek means “to make manifest,” or “to reveal.” Our lessons today relate to the progress of God’s plan to send Jesus as Savior, and more. Farther down the pike, we will learn that the Church (ekklesia) those who have been “called out” or “gathered” for the purpose of the redemption of the world (and universe, cosmos), is already in process.
We live in times when people again, don’t know what to do with the figure of Jesus whom the Church of the Ages has called “Christ” or Messiah. The New Testament witness is powerfully solid that Jesus of Nazareth is the One whom God had planned from the beginning to redeem the world, after sin had entered into the world and destroyed the relationship that existed between God and humans, and among humans themselves. It is not popular in many circles today to look upon Jesus as Savior of the world. This sounds very exclusivistic. It hurts those from other faith traditions when we claim that Jesus is all of the things which the New Testament says that He is. But, the witness of the apostolic church was what it was, and Jesus, if we believe the witness, is alive forever more, and Jesus is unique. He is not just another Avatar, or religious figure sent to redeem the human race. This witness sounds arrogant to many. And, while I will not engage issues in higher biblical criticism in this devotional, we must ask ourselves if the documents which we now call “The New Testament,” or New Covenant, hold true. Did God, who is Sovereign, indeed have a plan for the redemption of the human race, first through Abraham and Sarah and their faith, later through Moses, Israel, the prophets, and finally Christ, to save us from our sins, or is the witness all wet, and not to be trusted due to the claims of those who use higher scholarship to further their own “revisioning” as a way of defining their own “worldview?” And have they narrowed their faith to just one piece of a witness which is bigger and grander than anything we can imagine or prove “scientifically?”
Isaiah speaks of restoration as part of God’s plan to move toward the sending of the Christ. Psalm 29 speaks of God’s sovereignty in history. Acts 8:14-17 bears witness to the Gentile mission, how God deliberately extended the Promise across the ethnic boundaries of the nation of Israel. While Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 says plainly that Jesus was and is the Christ, and God’s own beloved Son.
Now, some practical questions:
1. Since this is the “faith once delivered to the saints” spoken of by Jude, how can we share it in ways that will speak to a generation that is so individidualistic and so sure that Jesus isn’t “unique” that He has lost relevance to them?
2. Is there still room in Christianity for apologetics? In United Methodism we don’t do much in this area. Is there a way to do it lovingly?
3. In this time and day when our world is faced with immense challenges and families are under immense stress, how can this “good news” that God loves them, is sovereign, has a plan, and is working for good every day of our lives touch their souls?
These are the ongoing challenges of our faith.
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