Readings for October 17, 2010

Our image today is a heart. In reality, it is a heart made of many pieces, a heart broken and then mended for new purpose. Our readings today celebrate the persistent love of God and the challenge of responding with persistent hope.

Opening Prayer:
O Holy One, Open our hearts, that we might receive your Spirit of Compassion. Encourage us, when we are faint in our heartbeat of faith. Empower us, when our courage runs dry. Raise us up that we might see beyond our obstacles. And when we hear your word, give us faith to move mountains, In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen

READ Jeremiah 31:27-34

Our reading is part of the "Book of Consolation" Jeremiah 30:1-31:40, where the context is utter destruction, but already God, through Jeremiah, invites the people to have hope.

“The days are surely coming” - it sounds like more of Jeremiah's usual forecast of doom and judgement is on its way. But Jeremiah wants the people of God to know that future hope is as sure as the past judgement. He uses the metaphor of “seeding” new life that is universal, not exclusive to Jews or even to humanity. He also mentions both Northern and Southern kingdoms reunified under God. Who really destroyed Jerusalem? For Jeremiah it was the powerful who made unfaithful choices. The whole passage rephrases Jeremiah 1:1-10, the prophecy of doom.

Verse 31 is the only place in Hebrew Scripture to use “new covenant”. In Jeremiah’s view the “new covenant” is a re-issuing of the first, the one offered to Noah, Abraham and David. In verse 32 "not like the old one" refers to the Mosaic covenent based on commandments. The new covenant is sheer unconditional promise, it is internal not external. God promises to remember sin no more – "forgive and forget. "

Question for Reflection:

How do you feel about "forgive and forget"? Is it possible for you? Do you believe it is possible for God?

READ 2 Timothy 3:10-13/14-4:5, 6-8

CONTEXT -
Pseudo“Paul”, the author, is continuing to encourage Pseudo“Timothy”, a pastor, not to lose faith even in times of suffering. Was the pastor wavering? The author tells him to remember Paul’s suffering, and yet how much Paul accomplished. This is done by remembering his roots, his own early learning, faith and from “whom” (in the plural) he first learned it. The "sacred writings" was a phrase used for the law and the prophets, but interpreted “through” faith in Jesus Christ – the two must go hand-in-hand. The author warns that "itching ears" will lead to distortions of scripture. It must be inspired by the Spirit both in the writing and in the reading!

Question for Reflection:

What are the "itching ears" doing with scripture in our time?

READ Luke 18:1-8
A story unique to Luke’s gospel, this is a parable of Jesus remembered and then framed to teach a lesson about prayer. "That they would not lose heart" - for Luke, this is about the same persecution that “2 Timothy” faced.

Our present faith is connected to future hope – if we believe, then we are persistent in trying to make things happen. Jesus' listeners needed to believe that justice was possible, even when the unjust had all the power. Luke's readers needed to know that God was listening to their prayers for help.

Question for Reflection:

In what situations do you need to be more persistent? In what ways do you think your faith community needs more persistence?

Closing Prayer:

Psalm 119: 97-104, from Everyday Psalms by James Taylor, 2005 Wood Lake Books.

In the maze of modern life,

it helps to have clear directions.

A clear vision of how things ought to be

gives great advantage.

I don't have to balance this against that.

I don't have to choose the lesser of two evils.

You give me a goal.

The world is changing so fast,

the wisdom of old age isn't always applicable;

But your wisdom is.

Our ways are not always your ways,

nor is our wisdom your wisdom.

You have taught me how to discern the difference.

And what a difference that makes!

You help me to see more clearly;

with your guidance, I can grope my way through. Amen