Daily Lectionary Readings for November 6, 2010
Psalm 59
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Revelation 18:1-14
Luke 14:1-11
Zephaniah 3:14-20
"The Lord has taken away the
judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in
you midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.(v.15)
Great reminder here - "The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more." This is similar to a theme I'll be highlighting tomorrow in worship from Haggai. In the Haggai passage the people are despondent and despairing about their future as symbolized by the temple. They have a memory of what it once was and they are pretty sure it can't be that again. They don't have the energy. They don't have the resources. They don't have the faith. Haggai's prophecy sounds very similar to Zephaniah's in pointing out to the people that whatever is against them, God is for them and really that is game, set and match. There is nothing better than knowing that God is with us.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
A Beautiful Spot Where Pharisees Do The Right Thing - November 5, 2010
Daily Letionary Readings for November 5, 2010
Psalm 109
Zephaniah 3:8-13
Revelation 17:1-18
Luke 13:31-35
Luke 13:31-35
The Dominus Flevit Church is a small chapel on the side of the Mount of Olives with the above pictured very striking view of the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. It is supposed to be on the spot where Jesus stood looking at the Temple and more generally at Jerusalem and spoke the following words of lament: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"(v34)
The spot is truly striking and one of my favorite locations in the Holy Land. I can remember being there with our tour group in 2001, when I traveled there with a good friend as part of a group of clergy. What I can remember most vividly is the person who led the devotional talked about how they were having a wonderful experience, but very much missing their family and how their words brought tears to my eyes as I realized how much the words hit home with me and how much I was missing my wife and our two children that particular moment. Something about that quite visceral moment overlooking the Old City has stayed with me and whenever I read the story of Jesus lament over Jerusalem I remember that feeling of being struck by the absolute beauty of what I was seeing and at the same time the absolute sadness of missing the people who were so far away and so important to me.
How hard must it had been for Jesus to look at a city teeming with people, people he loved so much and who he knew would summarily reject him and seek to take his life. How hard especially when he could look across that valley and literally see the ground he would have to cover in order to set in motion the events of Holy Week, the events that would lead to his arrest and crucifixion.
Don't miss the words of v.31. As I read them they are a bit of a bright spot and point to something that we should factor in to our thinking about the Pharisees. Often times the Pharisees are the bad guys in the gospel stories. They are out to get Jesus, to trick him, to trip him up. And yet he hangs around with them regularly and discusses faith with them regularly. They are his nemisis at times, yes, but they are also, I suspect, his friends at times as well. "At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, 'Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.'"(v.31) These words can be interpreted perhaps in a variety of ways, but they sound to me like words of warning from one friend to another. Take care - you are in danger. The Pharisees are not two dimensional villains in a set piece. They are living, breathing folks who have some very bad moments in the gospel accounts, but who also undoubtedly have some good moments as well and who I also would say undoubtedly are represented in the group that Jesus would have counted as his companions and friends.
Psalm 109
Zephaniah 3:8-13
Revelation 17:1-18
Luke 13:31-35
The Dominus Flevit Church is a small chapel on the side of the Mount of Olives with the above pictured very striking view of the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. It is supposed to be on the spot where Jesus stood looking at the Temple and more generally at Jerusalem and spoke the following words of lament: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!"(v34)
The spot is truly striking and one of my favorite locations in the Holy Land. I can remember being there with our tour group in 2001, when I traveled there with a good friend as part of a group of clergy. What I can remember most vividly is the person who led the devotional talked about how they were having a wonderful experience, but very much missing their family and how their words brought tears to my eyes as I realized how much the words hit home with me and how much I was missing my wife and our two children that particular moment. Something about that quite visceral moment overlooking the Old City has stayed with me and whenever I read the story of Jesus lament over Jerusalem I remember that feeling of being struck by the absolute beauty of what I was seeing and at the same time the absolute sadness of missing the people who were so far away and so important to me.
How hard must it had been for Jesus to look at a city teeming with people, people he loved so much and who he knew would summarily reject him and seek to take his life. How hard especially when he could look across that valley and literally see the ground he would have to cover in order to set in motion the events of Holy Week, the events that would lead to his arrest and crucifixion.
Don't miss the words of v.31. As I read them they are a bit of a bright spot and point to something that we should factor in to our thinking about the Pharisees. Often times the Pharisees are the bad guys in the gospel stories. They are out to get Jesus, to trick him, to trip him up. And yet he hangs around with them regularly and discusses faith with them regularly. They are his nemisis at times, yes, but they are also, I suspect, his friends at times as well. "At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, 'Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.'"(v.31) These words can be interpreted perhaps in a variety of ways, but they sound to me like words of warning from one friend to another. Take care - you are in danger. The Pharisees are not two dimensional villains in a set piece. They are living, breathing folks who have some very bad moments in the gospel accounts, but who also undoubtedly have some good moments as well and who I also would say undoubtedly are represented in the group that Jesus would have counted as his companions and friends.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
God Is God And We Are Not - November 4, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 4, 2010
Psalm18:1-20
Zephaniah 3:1-7
Revelation 16:12-21
Luke 13:18-30
Psalm 18:1-20
This Psalm is not unique, but is a great representation of one of the characteristics of a number of the Psalms. Here the Psalmist creatively combines the Lord's concern with the specific, individual life of the writer and the cosmic majesty of what it means to be God. The Psalm is an acknowledgement of God's help, but it moves past being a thank you note to God to being effusive praise for God who is so much more than a magic helper waiting to solve our problems. Here is the creator God in all of God's glory and majesty and here is the great good news that this awesome and spectacular God cares deeply for individuals like us. After a particularly grand and powerful description of God's might we land on v.19 - "He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." With all that is virtually beyond the ability of words to describe about God's nature the Psalmist leads us to a point that Scripture's story draws us to again and again - this amazing God has a deep and abiding love...for us.
Zephaniah 3:1-8
"Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city!
It has listened to no voice;
it has accepted no correction."(v.1)
This verse marks a sharp contrast to the theme mentioned above in the Psalm. God, who is the creator and whose power can truly only be discussed in words that attempt to convey an idea of power on a grand and cosmic scale takes note of us and cares for us. On the other hand, the prophet here describes a city, Jerusalem in this instance, that imagines itself to be grand and powerful on a great scale and which is indifferent to it's creator. God who could easily have not a care for us instead loves us. We who depend on God for everything live at times as though we are beholding to no one.
Luke 13:18-30
The Luke passage kind of draws this together as Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God and about the narrow path that leads to God's kingdom. His closing words in this passage drive home the point that it is not power - real or perceived - among people that leads one to the God's kingdom. Rather it is about obedience and aiming to follow Christ on that narrow path. "Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."(v.30) In the shadow of election day and the echoes of acceptance and concession speeches these words of Christ have a particular relevance. Much of politics is about the trappings of and exercise of power. Too often it becomes simply about gaining and maintaining power. Jesus is clear - the power is a tool among other tools, the decisive and all important factor is not the measure of power, but the desire to be obedient. While mentioning politicians as examples I'd be remiss if I did not confess that the first person I need to hear Christ's call to obedience is me. Praying today that we all will be a little more obedient and Christlike today then we were yesterday.
Psalm18:1-20
Zephaniah 3:1-7
Revelation 16:12-21
Luke 13:18-30
Psalm 18:1-20
This Psalm is not unique, but is a great representation of one of the characteristics of a number of the Psalms. Here the Psalmist creatively combines the Lord's concern with the specific, individual life of the writer and the cosmic majesty of what it means to be God. The Psalm is an acknowledgement of God's help, but it moves past being a thank you note to God to being effusive praise for God who is so much more than a magic helper waiting to solve our problems. Here is the creator God in all of God's glory and majesty and here is the great good news that this awesome and spectacular God cares deeply for individuals like us. After a particularly grand and powerful description of God's might we land on v.19 - "He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." With all that is virtually beyond the ability of words to describe about God's nature the Psalmist leads us to a point that Scripture's story draws us to again and again - this amazing God has a deep and abiding love...for us.
Zephaniah 3:1-8
"Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city!
It has listened to no voice;
it has accepted no correction."(v.1)
This verse marks a sharp contrast to the theme mentioned above in the Psalm. God, who is the creator and whose power can truly only be discussed in words that attempt to convey an idea of power on a grand and cosmic scale takes note of us and cares for us. On the other hand, the prophet here describes a city, Jerusalem in this instance, that imagines itself to be grand and powerful on a great scale and which is indifferent to it's creator. God who could easily have not a care for us instead loves us. We who depend on God for everything live at times as though we are beholding to no one.
Luke 13:18-30
The Luke passage kind of draws this together as Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God and about the narrow path that leads to God's kingdom. His closing words in this passage drive home the point that it is not power - real or perceived - among people that leads one to the God's kingdom. Rather it is about obedience and aiming to follow Christ on that narrow path. "Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."(v.30) In the shadow of election day and the echoes of acceptance and concession speeches these words of Christ have a particular relevance. Much of politics is about the trappings of and exercise of power. Too often it becomes simply about gaining and maintaining power. Jesus is clear - the power is a tool among other tools, the decisive and all important factor is not the measure of power, but the desire to be obedient. While mentioning politicians as examples I'd be remiss if I did not confess that the first person I need to hear Christ's call to obedience is me. Praying today that we all will be a little more obedient and Christlike today then we were yesterday.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Times When Healing Is A Bad Thing - November 3, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 3, 2010
Psalm 145
Zephaniah 2:1-15
Revelation 16:1-11
Luke 13:10-17
Psalm 145
Several verses quoted out of sequence. First from the second half of the Psalm...
"The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. (vs.14,15)
A great promise that God will be with us in hard times, particularly when we are most in need, when we are looking to God. An earlier verse from this Psalm gives us a clue how this happens.
"On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate."(v.5)
When we take the time to meditate on God's wondrous works and on all the ways God reveals God's majesty to us in our daily lives we find an awesome God for sure, but I believe we find more. We find an awesome God who cares for us. In the midst of all the striking things that God has done when we meditate on God's actions we become aware that God cares deeply about us and is undeniably active and at work in our lives. God is always those things - active and at work in our lives - but we can easily ignore or choose to overlook the presence of God. Being in tune with that work in our regular meditation helps us to experience God at those times of crises, hopelessness and despair in our lives - the times when we are "bowed down".
Luke 13:10-17
Yesterday's Luke passage contained the story of a fig tree that no longer bore fruit. The suggestion was made that we may have some "fig trees" in our lives that are not bearing fruit and perhaps what such a passage might be asking us to do is to evaluate and consider doing away with such trees so that we could put our energy in other, more productive directions. A friend commented that one of the places we may encounter fig trees is in the life of the church. I agree. And believe that it's a good discipline to do as Stan Ott, of the Acts 16:5 Initiative suggests and not simply repeat last years programs again this year because we did them last year. The church can surely be a place where traditions become entrenched and we continue doing things over the years sometimes for little reason than that we've been doing them for a long time. There is certainly nothing wrong with longstanding traditions, but all of them are worthy of examination at least to ask why we are doing them and what purpose we believe is being accomplished in their being done. Today's Luke passage features Jesus healing a woman who has been bent over, unable to stand up straight for many years. Jesus heals her - he frees her from her ailment - and trouble ensues. Jesus has, again, healed on the Sabbath. Some traditionalists are angry with him. Which raises the question how do you get angry with someone for healing someone in any circumstance? Here it is because it runs headlong into a tradition - the Sabbath is a time when no work is to be done. Those who are angry are unable to look past the bottom line of the tradition to examine the content of the action. In a way it is a similar message to yesterday's - we do ourselves no favors when we are so tied to a course of action that we are unable to actually see what the course of action is leading us to do AND what it may be keeping us from doing.
Psalm 145
Zephaniah 2:1-15
Revelation 16:1-11
Luke 13:10-17
Psalm 145
Several verses quoted out of sequence. First from the second half of the Psalm...
"The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. (vs.14,15)
A great promise that God will be with us in hard times, particularly when we are most in need, when we are looking to God. An earlier verse from this Psalm gives us a clue how this happens.
"On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate."(v.5)
When we take the time to meditate on God's wondrous works and on all the ways God reveals God's majesty to us in our daily lives we find an awesome God for sure, but I believe we find more. We find an awesome God who cares for us. In the midst of all the striking things that God has done when we meditate on God's actions we become aware that God cares deeply about us and is undeniably active and at work in our lives. God is always those things - active and at work in our lives - but we can easily ignore or choose to overlook the presence of God. Being in tune with that work in our regular meditation helps us to experience God at those times of crises, hopelessness and despair in our lives - the times when we are "bowed down".
Luke 13:10-17
Yesterday's Luke passage contained the story of a fig tree that no longer bore fruit. The suggestion was made that we may have some "fig trees" in our lives that are not bearing fruit and perhaps what such a passage might be asking us to do is to evaluate and consider doing away with such trees so that we could put our energy in other, more productive directions. A friend commented that one of the places we may encounter fig trees is in the life of the church. I agree. And believe that it's a good discipline to do as Stan Ott, of the Acts 16:5 Initiative suggests and not simply repeat last years programs again this year because we did them last year. The church can surely be a place where traditions become entrenched and we continue doing things over the years sometimes for little reason than that we've been doing them for a long time. There is certainly nothing wrong with longstanding traditions, but all of them are worthy of examination at least to ask why we are doing them and what purpose we believe is being accomplished in their being done. Today's Luke passage features Jesus healing a woman who has been bent over, unable to stand up straight for many years. Jesus heals her - he frees her from her ailment - and trouble ensues. Jesus has, again, healed on the Sabbath. Some traditionalists are angry with him. Which raises the question how do you get angry with someone for healing someone in any circumstance? Here it is because it runs headlong into a tradition - the Sabbath is a time when no work is to be done. Those who are angry are unable to look past the bottom line of the tradition to examine the content of the action. In a way it is a similar message to yesterday's - we do ourselves no favors when we are so tied to a course of action that we are unable to actually see what the course of action is leading us to do AND what it may be keeping us from doing.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Is It Time To Get Rid Of A Fig Tree Or Two? - November 2, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings For November 2, 2010
Psalm 28
Zephaniah 1:14-18
Revelation 14:14-15:8
Luke 13:1-9
Luke 13:1-9
Jesus tells this parable about a fig tree that doesn't produce figs. The man who owns the vineyard is upset. The tree hasn't produced for three years - he wants it removed. The gardener asks for an extension. One more year. "If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not you can cut it down."(v.9) You can do several things with this story, as is often the case when Jesus tells a parable. We can imagine ourselves in the place of the fig tree. God has put us here to bear fruit. Grace is extended when we are not bearing fruit and we are given additional time. But there is a day when fruit will be expected. Another way of coming at this story though is to ask where the barren fig trees are in our lives and what are we doing with them. How much of our time and energy is wrapped up in efforts that do not bear fruit, which actually may be more life taking than life giving. Why do we keep pouring ourselves into these activities? Habit? Duty? A sense that there is hope for the fig tree? Perhaps the gardner's solution is one that might be helpful to us. Give it a year (or pick your own time frame) and then reevaluate. Perhaps by leaving some of our less fruitful activities behind we might find a new and lifegiving activity or passion that God has planned for us.
Psalm 28
Zephaniah 1:14-18
Revelation 14:14-15:8
Luke 13:1-9
Luke 13:1-9
Jesus tells this parable about a fig tree that doesn't produce figs. The man who owns the vineyard is upset. The tree hasn't produced for three years - he wants it removed. The gardener asks for an extension. One more year. "If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not you can cut it down."(v.9) You can do several things with this story, as is often the case when Jesus tells a parable. We can imagine ourselves in the place of the fig tree. God has put us here to bear fruit. Grace is extended when we are not bearing fruit and we are given additional time. But there is a day when fruit will be expected. Another way of coming at this story though is to ask where the barren fig trees are in our lives and what are we doing with them. How much of our time and energy is wrapped up in efforts that do not bear fruit, which actually may be more life taking than life giving. Why do we keep pouring ourselves into these activities? Habit? Duty? A sense that there is hope for the fig tree? Perhaps the gardner's solution is one that might be helpful to us. Give it a year (or pick your own time frame) and then reevaluate. Perhaps by leaving some of our less fruitful activities behind we might find a new and lifegiving activity or passion that God has planned for us.
All Saints Day - November 1, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for November 1, 2010
Psalm 2
Isaiah 26:1-21
Revelation 21:9-22:5
Matthew 5:1-12
Revelation 21:9-22:5 and Matthew 5:1-12
These two passages seem appropriate for All Saints Day, a day specifically placed to remind us of those who have gone before us, lived the faith and left us a legacy for which we can only be thankful. The Revelation passage is one of vivid hope. The light of God's coming Kingdom will be brighter than the sun - it's a glorious passage in which the light illuminates the hope of the book of Revelation. It seems that Revelation is forever being explored by those who would use it as a biblical version of tea leaves as though if one looks at it just right, with just enough imagination and creativity and divine inspiration one will know with great specificity what the completion of history will look like in a highly literal way. To which I can only think, what? Without traveling much farther down that road I'd simply point to passages where Jesus implores us to keep awake because he could return at any time, combined with passages where he suggests that it's not for us to know with precision what the end will be like. Revelation is not a road map wrapped in a secret code - it's good news and here in this passage is the good news - the very good news that inspired all those saints who we remember. The words of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 of course also point us to the lives of the saints who have gone before us - to the way they lived their lives, the way those lives inspire us and push us to be more and more the people God created us to be. Thanks be to God for the folks who did the day after day work of living grace filled lives and for the hope that calls us forward into each new day and to God's glorious future.
Psalm 2
Isaiah 26:1-21
Revelation 21:9-22:5
Matthew 5:1-12
Revelation 21:9-22:5 and Matthew 5:1-12
These two passages seem appropriate for All Saints Day, a day specifically placed to remind us of those who have gone before us, lived the faith and left us a legacy for which we can only be thankful. The Revelation passage is one of vivid hope. The light of God's coming Kingdom will be brighter than the sun - it's a glorious passage in which the light illuminates the hope of the book of Revelation. It seems that Revelation is forever being explored by those who would use it as a biblical version of tea leaves as though if one looks at it just right, with just enough imagination and creativity and divine inspiration one will know with great specificity what the completion of history will look like in a highly literal way. To which I can only think, what? Without traveling much farther down that road I'd simply point to passages where Jesus implores us to keep awake because he could return at any time, combined with passages where he suggests that it's not for us to know with precision what the end will be like. Revelation is not a road map wrapped in a secret code - it's good news and here in this passage is the good news - the very good news that inspired all those saints who we remember. The words of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 of course also point us to the lives of the saints who have gone before us - to the way they lived their lives, the way those lives inspire us and push us to be more and more the people God created us to be. Thanks be to God for the folks who did the day after day work of living grace filled lives and for the hope that calls us forward into each new day and to God's glorious future.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Receiving Grace and Dispensing Something Else - October 31, 2010
Daily Lectionary Readings for October 31, 2010
Psalm 22
Zephaniah 1:1-6
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
Matthew 18:21-35
Matthew 18:21-35
A friend was just commenting on the disappointment she felt when she encountered mean-spirited and ugly attitudes and actions from folks who profess to be Christian. Those sorts of statements are painful because it not difficult to imagine what she mentioned taking place and because it's not all that difficult to imagine being guilty of such behavior. What she says is important, not because we Christians are ever going to be perfect, but because it would seem that we who have experienced and acknowledge experiencing the awesome depth of the grace of God might, hopefully exhibit that grace in our dealings with others. Today's Matthew passage makes a similar point. A man, a slave, owes a great debt which his lord forgives. That slave, newly free of debt, encounters a fellow slave who owes him money. With a complete lack of a sense that he understands that magnitude of what the master has just done for him he demands of his fellow slave, "Pay what you owe"(v.29) all the while seizing him by the throat. How is it, that we who experience mercy and grace from God so often fail to extend grace and mercy in our relationships?
Psalm 22
Zephaniah 1:1-6
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
Matthew 18:21-35
Matthew 18:21-35
A friend was just commenting on the disappointment she felt when she encountered mean-spirited and ugly attitudes and actions from folks who profess to be Christian. Those sorts of statements are painful because it not difficult to imagine what she mentioned taking place and because it's not all that difficult to imagine being guilty of such behavior. What she says is important, not because we Christians are ever going to be perfect, but because it would seem that we who have experienced and acknowledge experiencing the awesome depth of the grace of God might, hopefully exhibit that grace in our dealings with others. Today's Matthew passage makes a similar point. A man, a slave, owes a great debt which his lord forgives. That slave, newly free of debt, encounters a fellow slave who owes him money. With a complete lack of a sense that he understands that magnitude of what the master has just done for him he demands of his fellow slave, "Pay what you owe"(v.29) all the while seizing him by the throat. How is it, that we who experience mercy and grace from God so often fail to extend grace and mercy in our relationships?
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