Daily Lectionary Readings for December 2, 2010
Psalm 18:1-20
Isaiah 2:5-22
1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
Luke 20:27-40
Luke 20:27-40
Some Saducees ask Jesus as question about a woman who marries a man with several brouthers. Her husband dies so his brother marries her and then he dies so another brother marries her...the wrap up to the question is in the final analysis whose wife will she be in the resurrection. It reminds me of an episode of the Simpsons where Bart is in Sunday School asking questions of the teacher about a man with a prosthetic leg. Bart wants to know if the man dies and goes to heaven does the leg go with him. These are the sort of questions that flit through our minds at times when we think about the bridge between this life and the next and matters of faith, but they are questions that at the end of the day I'm not much interested in and find missing the point. There is a life beyond this one. God will be there and by God's grace I hope to be there as well. What it will look like I can't begin to know, understand or explain. I don't for a moment discourage anyone from giving as much thought, very specfic thought to what that future might hold, but I'm satisfied with the general overview. Jesus words about God being the God of Abraham and Isaac are fascinating. "So he is the God of the living, for they are all alive to him."(v.38) There is our perspective and there is God's perspective. Trouble ensues when we try to puzzle out too much of what God sees as we very much struggle with such a task engaging it from our perspective.
Another Night At The UK Medical Center...
Stayed Monday and Tuesday night with my mother-in-law at Markey Cancer Center in Lexington. And am back here tonight. She is recovering from an 8 hour surgery for ovarian cancer three weeks ago yesterday. The recovery has been a one step forward, two steps back proposition to this point, but we are hopeful we are on the right track. She will hopefully be regaining her strength so that chemo can begin before too long. Prayers are appreciated. Her name is Joy.
World Cup Bid
FIFA announced host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments this morning - or whatever time it was in Switzerland. 2018 went to Russia (not England or Spain/Portugal) and 2022 went to Qatar (not the USA or Australia). I can sort of see the 2018 result - not agree with, but see. The 2022 is baffling to me. Qatar has 3 stadiums presently built of the 12 they will need for the competition. It is miserably hot in Qatar at the time of year when the WC will be played. They are building air conidtioned stadiums apparently. Disappointed that we don't have a World Cup in the United States to look forward to. And hoping, if we qualify for the 2022 World Cup, that we get Qatar in our group as they have never played in a World Cup and would be unlikely to play in one by then except for the fact that they are the host.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Calling Evil By Name - December 1,2010
Daily Lectionary for December 1, 2010
Psalm 50
Isaiah 2:1-4
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
Luke 20:19-26
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
"We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul tried again and again, but Satan prevented us."(v.18)
Who talks like this? "Satan prevented us." Really? I don't think you hear this sort of statement much in 2010. I know I don't say things like this very often. As I think about it, maybe it would be helpful to talk this way a little more. While I don't think it's helpful to think of Satan as a red version of the Duke mascot with a little pitchfork and pointy tail, I do think there is something to be gained by speaking about evil in a way that recognizes that it isn't random, but rather the product of intent. Paul senses the call to return to visit the people of Thessalonica and tries multiple times, but each time the plans don't work out. What could be simply viewed as the frustrating way things fall together (or apart) he instead views as meeting intentional opposition from Satan. Which, rather than making him loopy, makes him highly sensible. If he believes he is acting in a way that is in accord with God's will and if he believes that way is being blocked it makes sense that what stands in the way of God's will is evil. Not to push this too far - it is certainly worthy of examination when we think we are doing God's will to be sure that it's not our will we are trying to carry out - but Jesus wasn't shy about talking about evil, Paul doesn't seem to step back from it and perhaps there is something for us to gain in calling that which thwarts God's will by its name. What do you think?
Psalm 50
Isaiah 2:1-4
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
Luke 20:19-26
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
"We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul tried again and again, but Satan prevented us."(v.18)
Who talks like this? "Satan prevented us." Really? I don't think you hear this sort of statement much in 2010. I know I don't say things like this very often. As I think about it, maybe it would be helpful to talk this way a little more. While I don't think it's helpful to think of Satan as a red version of the Duke mascot with a little pitchfork and pointy tail, I do think there is something to be gained by speaking about evil in a way that recognizes that it isn't random, but rather the product of intent. Paul senses the call to return to visit the people of Thessalonica and tries multiple times, but each time the plans don't work out. What could be simply viewed as the frustrating way things fall together (or apart) he instead views as meeting intentional opposition from Satan. Which, rather than making him loopy, makes him highly sensible. If he believes he is acting in a way that is in accord with God's will and if he believes that way is being blocked it makes sense that what stands in the way of God's will is evil. Not to push this too far - it is certainly worthy of examination when we think we are doing God's will to be sure that it's not our will we are trying to carry out - but Jesus wasn't shy about talking about evil, Paul doesn't seem to step back from it and perhaps there is something for us to gain in calling that which thwarts God's will by its name. What do you think?
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