Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Hospitality to Strangers - Entertaining Angels.

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:4-13 and Psalm 81:1, 10-16  •  Sirach 10:12-18 or Proverbs 25:6-7 and Psalm 112  •  Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16  •  Luke 14:1, 7-14

This week's letter to the Hebrews and gospel account are lessons in humility and hospitality. Jesus was invited to a Sabbath meal at the home of a leading Pharisee, and tells us where to sit - not in the place of honor, but in the lowest seats where we may be exalted and asked to move up, rather than embarrassed and asked to move down. his lesson, and the real heart of the lesson, is to have the heart of a servant. "The next time you throw a party, don’t invite your rich friends and neighbors, so that they might return the favor some day and invite you to one of their nice parties. Rather, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Then you will be blessed, because they can’t repay you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” See The Rev. Dr. Joseph Pagano's "Awaken the Servant Within."

Read Steve Goodier's wonderful story about Booker T. Washington, and lesson in humility and spirit in "A Humble Spirit ."

Finally we have that beautiful passage from the letter to the Hebrews,"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." Who are angels who may have shown us hospitality? What is it to be hospitable? What happens when we are hospitable to others? See The Rev. Larry Patten's "Was He an Angel?"



 

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Seeing as Jesus Sees - Fulfilling the Law with Compassion




 
 
In this week's gospel account, Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath. He sees her. She doesn't ask to be healed. She is "bent over" - in a weakened state from the Greek word astheneia. For a good discussion of what Jesus, saw, and why he healed on the Sabbath in the presence of the leader of the synagogue, see Peter Woods' "Believing and Seeing."

 
What did the leader of the synagogue say? Who did he blame? What was Jesus' reply?
Should one ever "break the law?" If so, for what reason(s)? What should the consequences be for the "law-breaker?"  Consider Ryan Wilson's "When Compassion Trumps the Law," and Jay Taylor's "Making the Crooked Straight."
 
 

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Disturbing the Peace - Picking Up the Pieces




 
This week's gospel has Jesus telling us "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!" So much for the meek and mild Jesus. This is a face of Jesus which John Dominic Crossan  an refers to as the apocalyptic preacher... or is it?

What does Jesus mean, and why does he tell us this? See Teresa Berger's "
Disturbing the Peace."  What does Thomas A. Renquist mean when he says Jesus is "piece-maker," and not a "peace-maker?" in his "Peace-Maker" or "Piece-Maker?"

What is God's peace? In Renquist's words and blessing "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding ... (even the peace of God which sometimes breaks us into pieces) ... will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Amen.











 
 
 
 
 




Thursday, August 8, 2013

The Gift of the Kingdom


 
How are you at receiving gifts? In this week's gospel, we are told it is God's pleasure to give us the kingdom! what does that tell us about God? What does that mean? Are we ready to receive such a gift? How can we be ready to receive this gift? What happens when we receive the gift of the kingdom? See The Rev. James Jewell's "God Wants to Give You Something."
 
This lesson about God's good gifts to us, of righteousness, peace and joy, also teaches something about possessiveness. Consider Fr. Rick Morley's "selling out for Jesus: thoughts on Proper 14C."
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, August 2, 2013

What is our relationship with God?


 
 
As we think about this week's lesson, consider what our relationship is with God, individually, and as a church. Then pray about it considering how Jesus taught us to pray. What do we learn about God's relationship with us?
 
This week's articles:
 
"For the Sake of Ten" by Kosuke Koyama
 
"Exuberant Gratitude" by Walter Brueggemann, and
 
"Lord, Teach us to Pray," by Daniel P. Clendenin.