Category: Lectionary Notes

Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69

The scene given to us in the lesson from Joshua 24 is that of a covenant renewal.  Israel has crossed from the wilderness into the land of Canaan and taken possession of the land.  Having declared his own loyalty and commitment to serve the Lord (in the omitted verses), Joshua then turns to the people and challenges them to do the same.

The reading from John 5:56-69 is the conclusion of the lengthy chapter on Jesus as the bread of life.  Many of those who had followed Jesus up to this point find his teaching too difficult to accept. They leave him.  In a way not unlike Joshua challenging Israel about their commitment to the Lord, Jesus asks his inner circle of twelve if they are going to remain with him or not.  Peter declares for them all the conviction that Jesus is the Holy One of God. There is no one else they would be willing to follow!

Paul is closing his letter to the Christians in Ephesus with the encouragement to stand firm in this new faith of theirs.  Using the equipment of a Roman soldier as his metaphor, he tells them how to be equipped to stand firm for the spiritual battle that always accompanies those who live as followers of Christ.

Comment: All of the lessons make clear that the life of faith is not a life of ease. How I wish it were not so! There are choices to be made and commitments to be kept, and there is opposition for which we must be prepared. It is always a temptation to walk away or ignore the words or way of the Lord that appears too difficult for me.  But we remain, in spite of our hesitations and half-heartedness, because we realize there really is no one else we can imagine worth following other than Jesus.  And Jesus himself gives us His own strength and power.  I need to remember this when I grow weary and exhausted from my own inadequacies.  I need to remember to receive his grace!

Proverbs 9:1-6

Psalm 111

Ephesians 5:15-20

John 6:51-58

Dear Friends,

The Book of Proverbs often speaks in terms of opposites – good and evil, wise and foolish.  In today’s chapter, the “simple” are invited to accept wisdom and become “wise”; the “immature” are invited to become people of “insight.”  In this context, wisdom and maturity would be marked by a decision to make the Ten Commandments and other teachings of Hebrew scripture one’s “daily bread.”

In John’s Gospel, Jesus offers himself as the living bread that gives life that lasts forever.  Read with Proverbs, Jesus invites us to make his “flesh and blood” our sustaining meal of daily “bread”.  This especially means his sacrifice of the cross where he offers his flesh and blood life for us.  In Jesus we have not only a new way of life to which we aspire (wisdom). Since we cannot fully attain that life by our own strength, from the cross we receive a gift of life with the Father that only Jesus himself can live and give to us by the Holy Spirit’s presence within and among us (grace!)

Paul also uses the opposites of wisdom and foolishness when talking to the Ephesians. Followers of Christ are people who seek to understand the will of the Lord, which is their wisdom.  They are inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit rather than wine, “making melody to the Lord in your hearts.”

Comment:  Can I think of my life as a song of thanksgiving to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ? In honesty, it is a song that I’d like to sing much better!  There remain too many notes of immaturity and places where I am not in harmony with the mind of Christ and will of the Father.  Mixing images, I am not always making Christ my bread either- the source that inspires and feeds “my song.”  And that may be just it:  it needs not to be “my” song at all, but the song of Christ in me

Ezekiel 2:1-5
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13

God calls the prophet Ezekiel to speak to the people of Israel.  They may or may not listen, but they will know that a prophet has come to them!

In Mark 6 we have the story of Jesus visiting his hometown.  Most of his fellow villagers are unable to welcome him as a prophet.  A few are healed, but we are left with the haunting message that Jesus was unable to do any mighty work there…and he “marveled at their unbelief.”

Paul has been contending for the hearts of the Christians in Corinth who have been caught up in leadership squabbles and are unimpressed with Paul.  There are more “impressive” leaders to follow.  After detailing his credentials (in the previous chapter), Paul makes one more boast of an exceptional revelation of Paradise itself.  But then he makes his real point. Boasting is foolishness.  It is not about outwardly impressive and human credentials, nor about amazing spiritual experiences (though he has these in abundance). He reveals that it is in and through his very weaknesses that the grace of God abounds.

Comment: I take great encouragement from the power of God which is displayed, not in my limited human strengths and achievements, but rather in times and places where I had no “skill” or “experience” to draw upon.  Awareness of our weaknesses, whatever shape they take in each of us, open us to understand the amazing nature of God’s power that comes precisely to us when we acknowledge our weakness and need of God’s gracious power.  It is never about us and what we can do, but what God chooses to do in and through us.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15
2 Corinthians 4:5-12
Mark 2:23-3:6

Dear Friends,

In Deuteronomy, the 10 Commandments that first appeared in the book of Exodus are repeated, and today’s lesson focuses on the command to keep the Sabbath (seventh day) as a day of rest.  This commandment is “inclusive” in that neither slaves nor animals are permitted to work, and the Israelites are reminded that once they too were slaves.  This point of social concern is grounded in the call to remember and honor the desires and words of the God who delivered them from Egyptian bondage.

In Mark 2, Jesus is challenged for allowing his disciples to work on the Sabbath when they are observed harvesting grain to eat.  Jesus in turn challenges their literalism by noting how God’s anointed one, David, apparently broke the law in order to feed himself and his hungry companions. But he goes further, to declare his deep understanding of the meaning of the Sabbath. It is not a rule to keep blindly, but shows God’s desire for the well being of people. Further still, he makes the dramatic claim that he himself is in charge (lord) of the Sabbath!

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul proclaims Jesus Christ as Lord. He and other Christians are “clay jars” that contain the light and power of God.  Christians can indeed be afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, and given up to death as they proclaim Jesus as Lord. But in any and all circumstances, the life of Jesus is made visible, not by any human strength of ours, but by God’s own power within us.

Comment: Does the commandment to keep the Sabbath day make sense in our times?  Since the other 9 commandments still challenge and make sense to me – how do I make sense of this one? Jesus shows me that creativity is permitted, and at the same time, I know personally that I do need Sabbath time to be renewed.  My “Sabbath” has changed from when I was single, to when I was married, to when there were young children around, then teens, then the empty nest, then grandchildren!  And what is the goal?  Maybe, as with Paul, to be a person – a clay jar –  that contains the light of God.  I wonder if true Sabbath keeping, at whatever stage I’m in, might be whatever works that allows God to renew God’s life in me.  How does that look for you right now?

SaveSave

Acts 8:26-40
1 John 4:7-21
John 15:1-8

Dear Friends,

John 15:1-8  draws on the image of the vineyard that plays a prominent part in the Biblical understanding of our relationship with God.  God wants us to remain connected to his life and be fruitful in it!  Whether in sending the prophets of Old, or Jesus, God tends his “vine” (all who are joined to Jesus!) by pruning what lives, and removing what is dead to be burned.

In 1 John 4:7-21 we see how love is the ultimate criteria by which God evaluates his vine – it is the fruit we are to bear. We cannot claim to love God and “hate” our brothers and sisters. The absence of this love is the sign of a person who is “dead” to God, living apart from the Spirit, and withering.

Acts 8:26-40 gives us the story of Philip and the Ethiopian official.  A new branch is “grafted” to God’s vine as the man is baptized into faith in Jesus Christ.  We have every reason to believe in the fruitfulness of this encounter, as the Ethiopian Orthodox Church traces its roots to this very event and even today carries on in the midst of persecution in an area of the world dominated by Islam.

Comment: Jesus is the true vine planted in our world to create a harvest of the love, grace and truth of God.  Through our baptisms we have been joined to him.  Sometimes I feel the “pruning touch” of the Lord upon me, and in hindsight it was always for my good.  Sometimes, I feel the life of the Spirit within, giving me gifts needed for the day.   All of our circumstances differ, but wherever we are, the Lord is looking for the fruit of love in our lives: a love we extend in concrete ways to our brothers and sisters in faith, and a love we extend to all whom we meet.  What does that look like for you today?

Acts 4:32-35
1 John 1:1-2:2
Psalm 133
John 20:19-31

The preacher today is Rev. Jay Walton

Dear Friends,

John 20:19-31 – John’s account of Jesus’ resurrection appearances includes the giving of peace to troubled and fearful disciples, the sending of the disciples as Jesus was sent, and the power of the Holy Spirit to engage that ministry and offer God’s forgiveness (or not!) of sin.  Thomas is really no different than the others in having his doubts, just one week later.  In this way John can emphasize the invitation to overcome our doubt that Jesus is the Messiah who gives life to those who trust and follow Christ.

John 1:1:7 –  In this letter, John witnesses that the risen Christ was seen and touched by his and the other disciples hands.  He invites everyone into that fellowship of belief, and notes that this is not abstract philosophy about life or “light overcoming darkness.” Belief is always expressed in our lifestyle.

Acts 4:32-35 – The early Christian community, freshly gathered by the event of Pentecost, shows us a community that is walking in light, sent as Jesus is sent.  This is what it looks like when the Holy Spirit is leading a group of believers.  A powerful witness to the resurrection of Jesus is being made by those who believe, and there is great generosity of caring for one another’s practical needs.

Comment:  God is light, showing me and you the way, giving us the power to be his people.  Through the Risen Jesus, God sends us to carry this news to our world, with particular emphasis on the work of extending forgiveness.  People (all of us) live in darkness and sin, but can be caught up and set free by the light and forgiveness of a loving God.  We have a great purpose and may need to make some changes in our lives to be part of that purpose.  How can I be a person who extends God’s peace and mercy to the people I see today, to my family, to my workers and all who I meet in the grocery store or on social media?