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BIBLE THIS WEEK Thoughts on the Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lectionary August 2010 (click here for September) The backbone of our readings continues to be the sequence of gospel readings from Luke. Jesus has chosen to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). We now read chapters that contain Jesus’ teaching given in the light of his coming departure. We take a break from this sequence on 15 August when the readings focus on Mary, the Mother of the Lord Jesus.
Sunday 1 August, Pentecost 10, Proper 13 Jesus speaks with urgency throughout this chapter from Luke’s Gospel. We have already seen that Jesus has set out resolutely towards Jerusalem: he knows that he must die. He does not waste his time on secondary matters and he does not expect his disciples to do this either. Whether the man who wanted his share of the inheritance was within his rights we cannot know: in the light of eternity and with the urgency of God’s kingdom, disputes over inheritances are not worth the waste of time and energy. We should all be aware of our mortality and give our efforts to the things that will have value for eternity. Our epistle reading from Colossians tells us that we belong with Christ already: we are called to a lifestyle that matches our identity in Christ. For our Old Testament reading we may choose to read of God’s love for his people, even though they have been unfaithful. They had forgotten their identity as God’s people: the prophecy of Hosea gives an insight into God’s disappointment at his people. The Ecclesiastes reading shows the emptiness of much of life: this emptiness needs to be filled with the life of God’s kingdom that we see in our other readings. We continue to read Jesus’ teaching from the central part of Luke’s gospel. A few verses have been omitted (Luke 12 22-31): here Jesus encourages his disciples not to be anxious but to realise the sufficiency of God’s provision. The priority is to be God’s Kingdom (verse 31). Kingdom priorities will free us from the bondage of possessions. Jesus tells his disciples to invest in treasure that will last for ever, that is more secure than any bank. Timothy Dudley Smith’s hymn (Lord for the years) speaks of “spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care”: Jesus frees us from these things. Jesus then speaks of a new dimension of urgency: the master will return: the servants must be ready for this. The suddenness of Jesus’ return will be like an unexpected thief, breaking into the house. This theme is dealt with in most depth in chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew’s gospel. Luke returns to the need of the servant to be faithful in 17:7-10 – when the servant comes in from ploughing he will need to get on with preparing a meal. Jesus says something extraordinary in today’s verses: when the master returns he will wait on the servants! This gives a beautiful picture of the Lord’s care for his people. It is worth being found ready! Our epistle reading speaks for the heroes of faith who looked forward to what God would do. The Old Testament reading in the “related” track supplies some of the background of God’s promise to Abraham. Those who are found faithful must take God at his word. The “continuous” track reading from Isaiah is part of a survey of prophetic writings. Religious offerings without righteous living and without justice are useless. Yet even here there is a surprise – sins like scarlet will become white. God’s response to sin includes the cleansing and gift of righteousness that Jesus came to give.
Sunday 15 August, Mary, Mother of our Lord Today we take a break from our normal Sunday sequence of readings: our theme is the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord. Our epistle reading sets the theological context for our celebration. Jesus, the Son of God, came to be one of us. He came to a particular situation: it would not be possible to be human without belonging to a particular setting in history and geography. It might be possible to imagine the Son appearing in an adult human body without having gone through gestation, birth and growth. Such a one could not share our human experience. Jesus’ birth is the necessary condition for his full humanity: he has shared the whole human pattern of life. He was born into a social and religious context: Jesus was born as a Jew. This meant that he was born in the right context to fulfil the law of God. The Son of God, who perfectly lived our life, is the one who enables us to become like him. He is the one who enables us to become children of God. Our gospel reading, the Song of Mary or Magnificat, is a wonderful expression of praise to God. Mary, carrying the newly conceived Jesus, has gone to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who recognises Mary as the mother of the Lord. Mary speaks of the great works of God that will find their fulfilment in Jesus. Mary recognises that she has been blessed by God and that future generations will acknowledge this. We rightly give thanks for her faith and obedience and accord her the highest respect. The Old Testament reading is part of Isaiah 61. Jesus chose earlier verses (1 and 2) as his reading in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:18,19). Today’s verses speak of God’s gift of righteousness that Christ gives to people of all nations. The alternative reading from Revelation is difficult! The present writer suspects that the woman is an image to represent the people of God, the church. Jesus was born into the context of God’s people, and after his ascension the church (portrayed in Revelation as persecuted) continues to require God’s protection. There are other interpretations: it is important not to be too dogmatic about matters that are not entirely clear!
Sunday 22 August, Pentecost 13, Proper 16 We return to our systematic reading of the central part of Luke’s gospel. In today’s reading we see that Jesus’ authority, power and compassion. Jesus encounters a woman who is bound by her physical condition: Luke suggests that there is a spiritual cause. Jesus shows both his authority and his compassion to free her. She is released from her condition and she praises God. There are critics present: Jesus is criticised for breaking the Sabbath. This shows the small-mindedness of the critics. Jesus shows that the Sabbath is a particularly good day to set the woman free from all that held her. As we go further into Luke’s gospel we shall see the conflict between Jesus and those who kept the religious rules. Jesus does not jettison the law: rather it is to be used to free us for a true relationship with God. Our epistle refers to Sinai, the mountain on which Moses received the law. That was solemn enough, but the privilege of the Christian is an even more wonderful encounter with God. Jesus opens up a better way (“better” is the key word of the Letter to the Hebrews) so that we might be counted as righteous before God and belong to the glorious city of God, a new community of all those whom God has made his own through Jesus. This is not to be taken lightly: such a privilege must be valued. There is a place for reverence and holy fear. The continuous track of Old Testament readings now turns to Jeremiah for a few weeks. Today we see the calling of Jeremiah: although he senses his unworthiness it is God’s work in him that will enable him to carry out God’s calling. The “related” reading (from Isaiah 58) shows the value of the Sabbath. It is a day for God’s concerns, not our own everyday business: as such it should be refreshing. The goal of obedience is to take delight in the Lord (Is. 58:14). The woman healed by Jesus found that delight and praised God.
Sunday 29 August, Pentecost 14, Proper 17 It must have been rather uncomfortable to have Jesus as a dinner guest! He seemed to have a disregard for convention. A few verses are omitted in the lectionary reading: Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. The Pharisees and experts on the law are cross about this but have nothing to say. By this point the atmosphere was probably becoming rather tense. Jesus then notices how the guests were choosing the best seats, and Jesus gives some practical advice on etiquette – it is better to be invited higher up the table than to be asked to move down. Jesus then brings in the underlying principle – that of humility. It is natural for us to be out for what we can get. Godly character shows when we choose to do things that have no reward for us. Our epistle reading continues a series through the later chapters of the Letter to the Hebrews. The writer gives snapshots of godly living, including the topic of hospitality. For the early church, especially in a time of persecution, hospitality shown to fellow Christians would have been important: it could also have carried risks. The writer shows us that generosity and praise to God belong together as aspects of the life that pleases God. Our Old Testament reading (continuous) follows the sequence of readings from Jeremiah. God asks why the people have been unfaithful to him. Even though he had done so much for them, they have done what no other nation does: they have turned away from their own God to other gods. There is a choice of readings for the “related” track. The reading from Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) shows how sin begins with pride. God responds in judgement to the sin of pride. The brief verses from Proverbs highlight the practical teaching that Jesus gives on how to behave when in circles where status matters. |
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