Joe 2:12 "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your
heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
Joe 2:13 and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the
LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and
abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
The theme today is the true nature of Penance. It is not a physical
one-time act but a spiritual cleansing that effects a permanent change
in our lives.
Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I
shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have
broken rejoice.
Psa 51:9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit
within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy
Spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a
willing spirit.
Psa 51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will
return to you.
Psa 51:15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psa 51:16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and
contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Psa 51:18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of
Jerusalem;
Psa 51:19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings
and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Most will remember these words from the Offertories in the old Red Hymn
Book.
The Gospel is once more taken from 'the Sermon on the Mount". It is
ironic that this text is used to mark the beginning of the season of
Lent, a traditional time of fasting, privations, and self-denial. We are
reminded that should we perform these rituals we should do them to
remind ourselves of the need for inward piety, for repentance and change
within our lives and NOT for the sake of being seen to do them.
We should not wear black, ashes, or sackcloth for the sake of outward
show but to remind ourselves of our inward need of repentance, of
turning away from old ways and restoring our relationship with God and
making peace with ourselves and our fellowman. We should not be seen to
be observing Lent, the changes that should be taking place are spiritual
ones that will inform the way we go about living our daily lives.
For good measure we are reminded that our charitable giving should not
become a public relations gesture but performed in secret because it is
the right thing to do, not something we do to acquire worldly acclaim.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Lessons March 2, 2014
Seems I made hand written notes that last time I wrote about
Transfiguration Sunday. Bummer.
Enough about mountaintop experiences. Done to death.
The creators of our pericope have switched from Moses coming down off
Mount Sinai a second time with a shining face in Exo_34:29-35 to
Exo_24:12-18 which marks his trip up the mountain to spend an extended
period of time with the Lord. One has to wonder if the passage that
follows describing the exact dimensions of the tabernacle's appointments
was a topic of discussion between Moses and his God or just a convenient
place for King David's scribes to record that information for posterity.
What we do know is that Moses was absent long enough for the Israelites
to return to their idolatrous ways and build a golden idol in the form
of a bull calf, make sacrifice to it, and engage in a drunken feast and
orgy. In retaliation God had Moses command the Levites to kill 3000
Israelites. In the verses that precede today's lesson Moses asks to see
God but is told no man may do so and live so God passes by and lifts his
hand to allow Moses to see his behind or back. In today's lesson Moses
goes back up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments a second time
after consecrating the Godly Covenant by sprinkling the people with
sacrificial Blood.
Psalm 2 adjures the rulers of nations to honour their God and the people
to pay heed to both their rulers and their God.
2Pe 1:17 We were there when he was given honor and glory by God the
Father, when the voice came to him from the Supreme Glory, saying, "This
is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased!"
Versions of the Transfiguration story exist in Mark and Luke but for
some reason that in Matthew is preferred.
Mat 17:5 While he was talking, a shining cloud came over them, and a
voice from the cloud said, "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am
pleased---listen to him!"
What is the significance of this event and why is it so important to
Matthew? Matthew is at pains throughout his Gospel to show how Jesus and
his Ministry are a fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Just as
Moses went up the mountain to meet with God and returned with shining
face and copies of the Law so Jesus face shines and he is seen talking
with a representative of the Law, Moses; and the prophets, Elijah.
Elijah we will remember was translated directly living to Heaven and
Moses was buried by the hand of God.
God claims Jesus on only a few occasions. When he appears to Mary's
cousin Elizabeth and again when his angel appeared to Mary and Joseph
before his birth. The claim is renewed on the night of his birth when
the angel appeared to the shepherds. Jesus hears it when the dove
appears above him at his baptism by John. And here Peter, James and
John. Finally the thief declares it during the crucifixion on Calvary.
Mat 17:9 As they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Don't
tell anyone about this vision you have seen until the Son of Man has
been raised from death."
It would seem the Disciples obeyed but the Godly dictum applies equally
to Jesus entire ministry. In the immediate aftermath of this event the
Disciples' main concern as recorded in Mark was,
Mar 9:10 They obeyed his order, but among themselves they started
discussing the matter, "What does this 'rising from death' mean?"
The true significance of the Transfiguration does not become apparent
until after the Resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost.
As with all good Jews the disciples lived in expectation of a Messiah
and at the triumphant march into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday haled his
arrival. Judas was so put out by Jesus failure to act that he betrayed
him in part as a means of forcing his hand. It took the Resurrection and
Pentecost for the full realization of Jesus' Messiahship to dawn on his
Apostles.
Our church fathers have seen fit to move this observance from the middle
of the former Trinity Season in August to the end of Epiphany. It seems
obvious that they see this event as the ultimate epiphany. The sages
from the East came bearing gifts to honour he who was born King of the
Jews. Today God himself claims him as his own.
Transfiguration Sunday. Bummer.
Enough about mountaintop experiences. Done to death.
The creators of our pericope have switched from Moses coming down off
Mount Sinai a second time with a shining face in Exo_34:29-35 to
Exo_24:12-18 which marks his trip up the mountain to spend an extended
period of time with the Lord. One has to wonder if the passage that
follows describing the exact dimensions of the tabernacle's appointments
was a topic of discussion between Moses and his God or just a convenient
place for King David's scribes to record that information for posterity.
What we do know is that Moses was absent long enough for the Israelites
to return to their idolatrous ways and build a golden idol in the form
of a bull calf, make sacrifice to it, and engage in a drunken feast and
orgy. In retaliation God had Moses command the Levites to kill 3000
Israelites. In the verses that precede today's lesson Moses asks to see
God but is told no man may do so and live so God passes by and lifts his
hand to allow Moses to see his behind or back. In today's lesson Moses
goes back up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments a second time
after consecrating the Godly Covenant by sprinkling the people with
sacrificial Blood.
Psalm 2 adjures the rulers of nations to honour their God and the people
to pay heed to both their rulers and their God.
2Pe 1:17 We were there when he was given honor and glory by God the
Father, when the voice came to him from the Supreme Glory, saying, "This
is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased!"
Versions of the Transfiguration story exist in Mark and Luke but for
some reason that in Matthew is preferred.
Mat 17:5 While he was talking, a shining cloud came over them, and a
voice from the cloud said, "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am
pleased---listen to him!"
What is the significance of this event and why is it so important to
Matthew? Matthew is at pains throughout his Gospel to show how Jesus and
his Ministry are a fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Just as
Moses went up the mountain to meet with God and returned with shining
face and copies of the Law so Jesus face shines and he is seen talking
with a representative of the Law, Moses; and the prophets, Elijah.
Elijah we will remember was translated directly living to Heaven and
Moses was buried by the hand of God.
God claims Jesus on only a few occasions. When he appears to Mary's
cousin Elizabeth and again when his angel appeared to Mary and Joseph
before his birth. The claim is renewed on the night of his birth when
the angel appeared to the shepherds. Jesus hears it when the dove
appears above him at his baptism by John. And here Peter, James and
John. Finally the thief declares it during the crucifixion on Calvary.
Mat 17:9 As they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Don't
tell anyone about this vision you have seen until the Son of Man has
been raised from death."
It would seem the Disciples obeyed but the Godly dictum applies equally
to Jesus entire ministry. In the immediate aftermath of this event the
Disciples' main concern as recorded in Mark was,
Mar 9:10 They obeyed his order, but among themselves they started
discussing the matter, "What does this 'rising from death' mean?"
The true significance of the Transfiguration does not become apparent
until after the Resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost.
As with all good Jews the disciples lived in expectation of a Messiah
and at the triumphant march into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday haled his
arrival. Judas was so put out by Jesus failure to act that he betrayed
him in part as a means of forcing his hand. It took the Resurrection and
Pentecost for the full realization of Jesus' Messiahship to dawn on his
Apostles.
Our church fathers have seen fit to move this observance from the middle
of the former Trinity Season in August to the end of Epiphany. It seems
obvious that they see this event as the ultimate epiphany. The sages
from the East came bearing gifts to honour he who was born King of the
Jews. Today God himself claims him as his own.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Lessons for Feb 9, 2014
The Epiphany Season stretches to almost its fullest possible eight
Sundays this year Easter being late meaning that we get to study lessons
not often used. Today's New Testament Lessons are a continuation of last
week's as will be those for the next two Sundays continuing the Sermon
on the Mount.
The OT Lesson continues by and large to refer to relevant passages from
Isaiah. Isaiah 58 talks about the true nature of service to God and
giving honour to his name.
Isa 58:1 The LORD says, "Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people
Israel about their sins!
Isa 58:2 They worship me every day, claiming that they are eager to
know my ways and obey my laws. They say they want me to give them just
laws and that they take pleasure in worshiping me."
It is not sufficient to go through the motions be it fasting or any
other form of worship. For our worship to be meaningful in our lives it
must have an effect on how we live our daily lives, do business, and
treat our fellow human beings. If we truly worship the Lord then we will
be about his work in the world around us.
Psalm 112 echoes the theme of light in the darkness we first met on
Christmas Day and have followed through this season of Epiphany and
echoes the Beatitudes and today's Gospel.
The Epistle emphasizes the simplicity of the Christian Message. It is a
stumbling block to the wise and overlooked by those in power. The Spirit
of the Lord is a gift that empowers and inspires those who receive it.
Our Gospel continues the collected sayings of Jesus presented here as
the Sermon on the Mount. Having turned conventional wisdom on its head
in the Beatitudes we continue with a collection of aphorisms still
quoted to this day. Today's concentrate on the nature and
responsibilities inherent in living the Christian Life.
Just as we learned on Christmas Day in John 1 that the Word made Flesh
dwells among us bringing Light to the world, as Christians it is our
duty to continue to spread the Word of that Light to the world. In a
sense we are that Light. If our lives do not reflect our experience of
the Holy Spirit and glow with that Light we lose our saltiness and hide
our light.
Whereas the Good News frees us from the burden of sin and death inherent
in the Law it does not free us from the responsibility to uphold the
law. In fact it lays an entirely new layer of responsibility on top of
the Law.
Sundays this year Easter being late meaning that we get to study lessons
not often used. Today's New Testament Lessons are a continuation of last
week's as will be those for the next two Sundays continuing the Sermon
on the Mount.
The OT Lesson continues by and large to refer to relevant passages from
Isaiah. Isaiah 58 talks about the true nature of service to God and
giving honour to his name.
Isa 58:1 The LORD says, "Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people
Israel about their sins!
Isa 58:2 They worship me every day, claiming that they are eager to
know my ways and obey my laws. They say they want me to give them just
laws and that they take pleasure in worshiping me."
It is not sufficient to go through the motions be it fasting or any
other form of worship. For our worship to be meaningful in our lives it
must have an effect on how we live our daily lives, do business, and
treat our fellow human beings. If we truly worship the Lord then we will
be about his work in the world around us.
Psalm 112 echoes the theme of light in the darkness we first met on
Christmas Day and have followed through this season of Epiphany and
echoes the Beatitudes and today's Gospel.
The Epistle emphasizes the simplicity of the Christian Message. It is a
stumbling block to the wise and overlooked by those in power. The Spirit
of the Lord is a gift that empowers and inspires those who receive it.
Our Gospel continues the collected sayings of Jesus presented here as
the Sermon on the Mount. Having turned conventional wisdom on its head
in the Beatitudes we continue with a collection of aphorisms still
quoted to this day. Today's concentrate on the nature and
responsibilities inherent in living the Christian Life.
Just as we learned on Christmas Day in John 1 that the Word made Flesh
dwells among us bringing Light to the world, as Christians it is our
duty to continue to spread the Word of that Light to the world. In a
sense we are that Light. If our lives do not reflect our experience of
the Holy Spirit and glow with that Light we lose our saltiness and hide
our light.
Whereas the Good News frees us from the burden of sin and death inherent
in the Law it does not free us from the responsibility to uphold the
law. In fact it lays an entirely new layer of responsibility on top of
the Law.
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