Readings for January 30 2011

Take a moment to centre yourself in prayer.

Opening Prayer:
O God, you turn things upside down for us. When we think our days have settled nicely into place, you upset our plans. Your word breaks into our agendas, and shakes us from complacency. And yet when our lives are in disarray, O God, you are the one who gives it meaning, who puts our feet on the earth, who points us to hope.
Help us this day, O God, to hear through the familiar words of beloved scripture and to be moved by the unlikeliness of finding ourselves in the midst of YOUR gospel story, for we pray in the name of the one we followed into the story, Jesus the Christ, Amen

READ Micah 6:1-8

Background: Micah's prophetic proclamations likely come from 711-701 BCE, likely during reign of King Hezekiah. He came from Mareshesh, a “frontier” community, one of the first regions attacked in war. Judah was the buffer between Egypt and Assyria.

Micah was likely an artistan, of the middle class, literate but not powerful. He went to Jerusalem to “deliver” his prophecies, but would not have been in the same social strata as Isaiah, who was well-connected with the palace and temples. The book of his prophecies likely include his own words, plus some later commentators attached, referring to exile and post-exilic periods and situations.

Welcome to God’s mini-drama – a new series: "Law and Order Promised Land"

The cast includes the Narrator (prophet): in verses 1-2, 8; the Plaintiff ( God): in verses 3-5; the Defense (Israel): in verses 6-7; and the Judges (mountains and hills) mentioned in 1-2 but present throughout.

The setting is up to the plaintiff – God is the one who has brought case to court, and chooses a jury which is the physical, not social, world, giving us an image of timeless wisdom, set on the enduring foundations by which the world is supposed to be ordered, not human society. The world is also universal, not national, so the message is to all people.
God has “a controversy” (Hebrew legal suit) with “his people”.

The Charge: verses 3-5 – What has God done wrong? Clearly nothing! YHWH gives the long-range view of their past history: the escape from Egypt; the story of their enemy Balaam trying to curse, but instead blessing Israel. References to Shittim, the Israelite camp on one side of the Jordan River before entering the promised land, and Gilgal, their camp on other side before taking Jericho.

Defense: verses 6 – 7 – Israel already acknowledged guilt, offers no defense. Micah asks God, what do you want? He starts out reasonably enough, then quickly offers exaggerated recompense, no more than 12 rams ever offered before.
Some criticism of the king, temple practices may be implied from this Jerusalem outsider.
References to human sacrifice which were still practiced in Israel, though criticized.

Conclusion: verse 8 – "You already know" the truth already in their hearts. Micah introduces the 3fold way: justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.
What does the Lord require of you? Sacrifice your pretensions to righteousness.

Question of Reflection:
What “pretensions” could we sacrifice in order to free up more energy for living the 3fold way?


READ 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

The pastoral situation: Chloe has written to Paul about this community at Corinth in conflict – who is the “right” teacher, which leader has the “highest” gifts, who has authority?
Paul overturns both “Greek” (or gentile) and Jewish values. A messiah dying on a CROSS is blasphemy to Jews, criticizing wisdom is blasphemy to Greeks. Paul refers to those “who are perishing” – they are not physically dying but missing the boat to eternal life.

Only "the saved" can see that the cross is the power of God.

In verse 19 there is a quote from Isaiah 29:14, the "wise advisors" are corrupt, and their duplicity is tripped up by God’s foolishness. There is no true worldly wisdom, so God works through belief. Not belief as in intellectual assent, but as a faith relationship, a bond of loyalty or trust.

The Christian community moves beyond stereotypes (Jews believe in signs, Greeks in wisdom)but we proclaim Christ. "To those who are called" (regardless of cultural background), the truth is not debasing God, but proclaiming that God’s foolishness greater than all human wisdom.

Paul reminds them that they are not the "best" but they are the ones that God has called, so no one might boast – the goal is unity, working together.

Question for Reflection:
In what ways has the “wisdom” of the church appealed to you? In what ways has it been its "foolishness" that has appealed?

Read Matthew 5:1-12

Look at different translations

New Testament Greek had “moods” as well as tenses - the beatitudes are indicative/factual statements of positive belief about the future, they are not imperative commands or demands.
Jesus is not telling the crowds to become poor, or go into extended mourning, Jesus is consoling those who are poor, or mourning, or powerless. When we hear them we should not think “Oh, I should be like that...” but “When I feel that way, I should remember what Jesus said...”

In English, “meek” can mean submissive, weak, powerless. Applied in translation to the original Hebrew or Greek, however, it sends the wrong impression of this important spiritual quality.

Numbers 12:3 –
“Now the man Moses was very meek, more so than anyone else on earth.” (from the KJV – our more contemporary translations, NIV or NRSV, say humble or devout.)
Clearly Moses might have been meek, yet as the leader of God’s people, not weak.

Matthew 11:29 –
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls.”
Likewise, Jesus was a leader passionate about God’s mission and ministry. Yet he knew that he needed gentleness and compassion to really demonstrate God’s spirit.

The Greek word used in both the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures) and in the Christian scriptures, which we translate meek is “praos”.
Beyond the Bible, it was used to describe (1) a soothing medicine, or (2) by sailors to describe a gentle breeze, or (3) by farmers to describe a broken colt. All describe power or energy channeled under great control.

Ephesians 4:1-2 – (KJV)
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.”
Paul called the early Christians to “meekness”, knowing that it would take self-control to live together faithfully, with all their differences. Christian witness required courage, not wimpiness! But to work together in a ministry that crossed boundaries of class, ethnic origin and gender, “gentleness” (NRSV) was also required.

We end with a quote from Chilean version of the Beatitudes, written by
P. Jacob, from Chile:

Blessed are the poor …
not the penniless
but those whose heart is free.
Blessed are those who mourn …
not those who whimper
but those who raise their voices.
Blessed are the meek …
not the soft
but those who are patient and tolerant.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice …
not those who whine
but those who struggle.
Blessed are the merciful …
not those who forget
but those who forgive.
Blessed are the pure in heart …
not those who act like angels
but those whose life is transparent.
Blessed are the peacemakers …
not those who shun conflict
but those who face it squarely.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for justice …
not because they suffer
but because they love.

Readings for January 23, 2011

Isaiah 9:1-4 • Psalm 27 • 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 • Matthew 4:12-23

Prayer to Begin
Perfect Light of revelation,
as you shone in the life of Jesus,
whose epiphany we celebrate,
so shine in us and through us,
that we may become beacons of truth and compassion,
enlightening all creation with deeds of justice and mercy. Amen.

Isaiah 9:1-4

Isaiah says that a time will come (“the latter time”) when God “will make glorious”, show his power, to three northern regions of Israel made provinces of Assyria after the conquest of 733 BC: “the way of the sea” (Dor), “the land beyond the Jordan” (Gilead) and “Galilee” (Megiddo). (Galilee was known as multi-ethnic, “nations”). The current “anguish” inflicted by God through the Assyrian king upon the Israelites there (the tribes of “Zebulun” and “Naphtali”), will end. The tense of the verbs is mixed perfect and future, so when the “latter time” will be is hard to tell; perhaps it is in the distant future. (In biblical times, northern Israel never regained its freedom.)

As “on the day of Midian” (v. 4), when Gideon led the people of Israel to defeat a vastly superior force of Midianites with God’s help, the people will be freed from oppression. (“Yoke”, “bar” and “rod” are symbols of oppression.) But this conquest will be a holy war; in such a battle, none of the plunder can be kept (“shall be burned”, v. 5), for it is God’s. God will increase the numbers of the Israelites (multiply the nation, v. 3). They will rejoice before God (“you”) as they do in times of plentiful harvest and of victory in battle (“when dividing plunder”). Vv. 6-7 are familiar to us from Christmas: “For a child has been born to us ...”. Originally written to prophesy the continuance of the house of David, we also see these words as foretelling Jesus’ birth.

Reflection
Have you ever lived in darkness? During a blackout, a power outage...? How did it feel to have light return?

Do we take light for granted? We extend daylight artificially but not so many years ago we would have lived closer to the cycles of nature.

What do you think of when you hear: God is light...or Jesus is the Light of the world. What images or experiences come to mind?

"the yoke . . . you have broken." Can you think/imagine that feeling when you are working with all your energy and then finally get to rest - like taking a break after a long run, or going to bed after a long, long day? This is an image of the ultimate release/respite that God will give. Can you think of times when you worked very hard and then enjoyed rest?

Psalm 27: 1, 4-9

The psalmist expresses his confidence in God. “Light” is linked with “life”. When “evildoers” (v. 2) try to destroy him (“devour my flesh”), they fail to do so. Even if they are many (“army”, v. 3), he is sure that they will fail. He has asked of God that he may worship in the Temple (“live”, v. 4) for as long as he lives, see the “beauty” of what God does, to know more of God; these things he intends to do. God’s “tent” (v. 5) is the Temple, the psalmist’s refuge; there God makes him unreachable by his ungodly foes (v. 6). So he will praise God. He pursues his request in vv. 7-12. May God allow himself to be seen (v. 9); in the past he has seemed hidden from Israel. May God care for him (v. 10). May God guide him in godly ways so that he may not become subject to the “will” (v. 12) of his foes who tell lies about him (“false witnesses”, v. 12). V. 13 is the conclusion: he trusts that he will see the effects of God’s caring, throughout his life. Possibly v. 14 is a later addition: God does not act according to our schedule.

Reflection:"seek [God's] face", "your face, Lord, I seek", "do not hide your face." Maybe today we don't think as much about God's face - we imagine God in a less personified way ... But seeing God - not God in a bush or God in a messenger - this was a big thing that few experienced in the scriptures. But it implies a desire for intimacy with God - close relationship - face to face.

Joan Osborne asks in a song: If God had a face, would you want to see it, if seeing meant that you would have to believe...

Would you like to see God? What would that be like? What would be the consequences for you?




1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Corinth was a major port which also commanded the land route from the Peloponnesus peninsula to central Greece. An industrial and ship-building centre, it was also a centre for the arts. Its inhabitants came from far and wide. In this epistle, Paul answers two letters he has received concerning lack of harmony and internal strife in the Corinthian church, a church he had founded. Paul wrote this letter from Ephesus (now in Turkey), probably in 57 AD.

In this reading, we learn of divisions in the church there. Paul appeals for commonality in their thinking about the faith and in their vision for the church. He has heard from “Chloe’s people” ( v. 11), who are either members of, and slaves in, her household, or the church that meets in her home, or those who look to her as leader, – that their factiousness has reached the level of recrimination (“quarrels”). We do not know what the three (or four) factions believed; perhaps those who “belong to Christ” (v. 12) give allegiance to him without the mediation (and the participation) of the church. (“Cephas” is Peter.)

V. 13 presents three rhetorical questions, to which Paul expects a negative answer (as the Greek shows). The sarcasm is biting! (By “Christ” he means the world-wide church.) To put loyalty to a leader above fidelity to Christ is unacceptable. While Paul probably baptised the first converts in Corinth (“Crispus”, v. 14, “Gaius” and “the household of Stephanas”, v. 16), his prime mission is to teach the faith (v. 17). Claims of belonging to Paul are unfounded. All are baptised in the name of Christ, so all “belong” (v. 12) to him. Paul teaches straight-forwardly, relying on the message, the “power” (v. 17) of the “cross of Christ” (Jesus’ sacrificial death) to convince people – not “eloquent wisdom”, appealing to reason with clever arguments and rhetorical prowess. To those who hear the message and do not accept it and trust in it, it is “foolishness” (v. 18) about a man who died an ignominious death; they “are perishing” both now and when Christ comes again. But to the faithful (“to us who are being saved”) it bespeaks how powerful God is.

Reflection: This is the week of prayer for Christian Unity :I'm liberal. I'm conservative. I'm Catholic. I'm evangelical. I'm progressive. I'm ordained. I'm laity. Our identifications are very important to us, But does our unity get squashed under our other identifications. What does Christian Unity look like?


Matthew 4:12-23

Jesus has been tempted by the devil in the wilderness. His responses show his complete dedication to the will and purpose of God. He has refused to use his divine power to his own human ends. Now he withdraws from “Nazareth” (v. 13) to “Capernaum”, so he can begin his mission safe from government interference. (John the Baptist has been arrested. Sepphoris, near Nazareth, was a Roman administrative centre. If the authorities seek to arrest him, he can escape more easily from Capernaum – by boat – than from Nazareth.) Matthew is keen to show Jesus as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies: he quotes Isaiah in condensed form (vv. 15-16) to show that Jesus is the future ideal king, the Messiah. (In Isaiah, the “sea” is the Mediterranean; here it is the Sea of Galilee.)

“From that time” (v. 17) marks a milestone: the launch of Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus proclaims: turn back to godly ways, to making God part of your way of thinking, for the completion of God’s plan for all created beings is close! Vv. 18-22 tell of the calling of the first four disciples. (We know “Simon” as “Peter”.) Jesus the teacher invites them to follow him, speaking in their terms (“fish for people”, v. 19) and fulfils Jeremiah 16:16; there the LORD is “sending for many fishermen” to Israel. They give up their trade and “immediately” (v. 20) begin a radically different way of life. Jesus expects, and receives, prompt obedience. He proclaims the “good news” (v. 23) in both word and deed (healing). His ministry is to Jews, but people from “Syria” (v. 24), “the Decapolis” (v. 25, Hellenistic towns) and “beyond the Jordan” also come to him to hear his message.

Reflection: Note, the passage Matthew quotes is the lectionary selection from Isaiah for this day. Jesus takes up John's message of repentance. Don't forget, the Greek means, literally, "to have a change of mind." A whole attitude adjustment. When has your attitude been changed?

"immediately" - Imagine just packing up, picking up, and following a stranger - immediately. When have you responded to God "immediately"? When have you delayed in your response to God's call?Jesus went preaching and teaching and healing. What does it say about jesus that these men just dropped everything and followed him?