Today's lessons are not about the authority of the prophets to teach but the ability of their listeners to learn.
I must quote Nancy Koester:
Are we teachable? Can we change? Can we grow into the image of God in which we are created?
Each text for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost asks these questions. Psalm 25 puts them in the form of a prayer: “Lead me in your truth and teach me.”
The gist of the lesson in Ezekial is that the exilic Israelites should quit blaming their situation on the sins of the past and take responsibility for their present actions.
In the alternate lesson the Israelites quarrel with God and Moses over their thirst.
The lectionary passage Philippians 2:1–13 continues Paul’s preceding recommendations on how followers of Jesus Christ should live. Again to quote Working Preacher.
When Christ came to the Temple in today's Gospel he marked the beginning of the end since he here confronted Jewish authority directly and set the seeds for his eventual crucifixion.
It is interesting to note that in the parable neither son comes off as a particularly shining example of Christian obedience. God works through imperfect followers. We should not use our inadequacies as an excuse for not acting.
I must quote Nancy Koester:
Are we teachable? Can we change? Can we grow into the image of God in which we are created?
Each text for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost asks these questions. Psalm 25 puts them in the form of a prayer: “Lead me in your truth and teach me.”
The gist of the lesson in Ezekial is that the exilic Israelites should quit blaming their situation on the sins of the past and take responsibility for their present actions.
In the alternate lesson the Israelites quarrel with God and Moses over their thirst.
The lectionary passage Philippians 2:1–13 continues Paul’s preceding recommendations on how followers of Jesus Christ should live. Again to quote Working Preacher.
When Christ came to the Temple in today's Gospel he marked the beginning of the end since he here confronted Jewish authority directly and set the seeds for his eventual crucifixion.
It is interesting to note that in the parable neither son comes off as a particularly shining example of Christian obedience. God works through imperfect followers. We should not use our inadequacies as an excuse for not acting.
No comments:
Post a Comment