Make a Joyful Noise!

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Psalm 30  •  Isaiah 66:10-14 and Psalm 66:1-9  •  Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sometimes what we need to experience wholeness is right in front of us and we don’t notice it or  we choose to ignore it.  Sometimes the solution to our problems is right in front of us, personally and as a community.  "See Bruce Epperly's "The Adventurous Lectionary for July 7: Transformation is Right in Front of You" with reference to the healing of Naaman in the passage from 2 Kings, Paul's comments in regard to legalism in the passage from Galatians, and how we should live out our vocation in the passage from Luke's gospel.

In "The Joy of Judgment" John W. Martens discusses the theme of "judgment" and the joy of God's judgment offered to us in the Isaiah passage and the joy Jesus offers us as he send us out to bring God's joy and hope to our fellow sojourners.

Christ's gift of freedom - Keep your hand on the plow!

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 and Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20  •  1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 and Psalm 16  •  Galatians 5:1, 13-25  •  Luke 9:51-62

This week we have the wonderful story of Elijah being carried up in the whirlwind, and his devoted servant and successor prophet, Elisha, receiving a double share of the spirit in Elijah. Swing lo, sweet chariot - comin' for to carry me home! Or "Double shot of my [God's] love." (I took some liberties with the latter song). We also study the fruits of spirit in Paul's letter to the Galatians, and Jesus' statements of "let the dead bury the dead, and "he who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God."

This passage in Galatians is sometime referred to as the freedom passage. What kind of freedom is Paul talking about? See "Freedom and Obedience" by Jake Wilson.
Do good works, or living "the fruits of the spirit" bring us salvation, or are the effects of God's saving grace? See Fruits of the Spirit, an excerpt from "The Faces of Jesus," by Frederick Buechner. 

What does Jesus mean in his seemingly stern remarks? Consider the thoughts of Alyce M. McKenzie's "Keep Your Hand on the Plow!"

When Jesus Comes to Visit

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a and Psalm 42 and 43  •  Isaiah 65:1-9 and Psalm 22:19-28  •  Galatians 3:23-29  •  Luke 8:26-39

What would you do? How would you feel... if Jesus came to visit? Compare your thoughts with the healed demoniac and his fellow Gerasenes. What if meant leaving our comfortable, familiar ways and "possessions?" See The Rev. James T. Moors, "When Jesus Comes to Visit."

Where do you find God? What is it like to be in the presence of God? Have you ever felt being in God's presence? What was it like? Describe it as best you can. Read where Elijah found God - not where you might expect. In God's presence, the man running for his life found the strength, serenity, sustenance and purpose to confront the very forces threatening his life, and the lives and faith of God's people. Where does Jesus show us that we can experience God's presence? See The Rev. Kate Huey's "In God's Presence." 

Givers and Takers - A Matter of Life and Death

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:1-10, (11-14), 15-21a and Psalm 5:1-8  •  2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15 and Psalm 32  •  Galatians 2:15-21  •  Luke 7:36-8:3

 

This week we have stories of greed and destructive possessiveness contrasted with extravagant giving - one leading to death, the other leading to life, and not just life, but life in abundance - joyous living. We learn more about what sin is in the story of Ahab and Jezebel with Naboth's vineyard, and the sin of David in his lust for Bathsheba as he sends Uriah to his death in battle. See The Rev. Janice B. Scott's "What is sin?"

 

In Luke's account of the "sinful woman" who washes Jesus' feet with an expensive ointment from an alabaster jar, and her tears, and dries them with her hair, we really see what extravagant love is. Luke does not place this story immediately prior to the passion story. It is in the midst of Jesus' teaching of forgiveness - the ultimate giving, which frees us from the control of hate, spite, anger and what ever else would separate us from loving God and our neighbor, and getting on with living. In this kind of giving we can experience the joy and peace God intends for us to have, and to share. See "Alabaster Extravagance" by The Rev. Dr. Mary Anderson.

Life giving power through compassion

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16, (17-24) and Psalm 146  •  1 Kings 17:17-24 and Psalm 30  •  Galatians  1:11-24  •  Luke 7:11-17

Two widows, two sons, two deaths. Elijah in Zarephath, and now Jesus in Nain. Restoring life where there is death. Jesus cuts through all rules and conventions of his society in the gospel account from Luke, as he does so many times - there is not one sheep this Good Shepherd will not search out, find, and bring home. Both of our authors give excellent accounts of the status of widows in the society of that time when they lost not only their husbands, but their sons. Essentially they were left to a living death with death not too far behind.  Worse, perhaps, they were left without a voice - silenced, non-persons. In "A people without boundaries, " The Rev. Matt Seddon reminds us that the mission of the church in our Book of Common Prayer "is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ." To be a people who recognize the dignity of every human being.

Jesus did a couple of things which were taboo in this Sunday's gospel lesson. He talked to the woman and he touched the bier of the dead. Cutting across anything which would separate us from the love of God. This story is not just about the son. Through his compassion, Jesus also gave life to the widow. She matters. He has given her a voice. A place in the kingdom of God's love. Jesus speaks liberating words. In "Finding a discourse for living," Christopher Burkett tells us , as people of faith, to chose our words carefully - that we use committed, responsible and liberating words - life giving words, Godly words. For the sake of our Lord, may we speak and act with compassion with all God's children, especially those without power, status, or voices of their own.

Who is worthy?

Scripture: Kings 18:20-21, (22-29), 30-39 and Psalm 96  •  1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43 and Psalm 96:1-9  • Galatians 1:1-12  •  Luke 7:1-10

Do you remember the mantra of Mike Myers and Dana Carvey in Wayne's World? "We're not worthy!" In both this week's epistle of Paul to the Galatians, and the healing of the Roman centurion's servant by Jesus, we can learn much about value and worthiness.

The Rev. Rick Morley has a good discussion of worth and worthiness in his "(un)worthiness." Is it something we earn, or achieve? Who is "worthy" of God's saving grace?

The Rev. David Lose tells us that we should never presume to judge someone by appearances, or believe that they are incapable of demonstrating faith and good works in "Unexpected Faith." He suggests that we offer two prayers this week. Pray to give thanks for people who do not believe as we do, but do good works and who are in our lives, and that we might have the grace to commend their good works, and show them God's love for them. The second prayer is for us. That we be less surprised that God uses people we have decided are unlikely or unexpected to do wonderful things.

 

 

The Trinity, a glowing oven full of love - feel, and share, the glow

Scripture: Psalm 8 

Holy, Holy, Holy. Lord God Almighty! God in three persons. Blessed Trinity.

This is Trinity Sunday. In "A glowing oven full of love," The Rev. Dr. Joseph Pagano discusses the social nature of God, and "relationship," within the Godhead, with God and us, and the relationships we have with each other. Part of our scripture is one of two creation stories from Genesis which says that we are created in the image and likeness of God. And God saw what he had created, and it was good. This is cause for celebration in relationships. See Psalm 8. 

In "Family Ties," Jenny Williams helps put a human face and sense of community to this week's lesson.