Category: Lectionary Notes

The Liturgy of the Palms

Mark 11:1-11
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

The Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11 
Mark 14:1-15:47

Dear Friends,

Liturgy of the Palms:  We remember and enact the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  The prophet Zephaniah described a messianic figure who would come to the city on a donkey, and so it seems Jesus deliberately confronts the authorities with a claim that demands a response.  Later when Jesus overturns the money tables and clears the sheep and cattle from the temple, he puts an exclamation point on this claim!  We know how they will respond.

The Passion of our Lord: Along with the Gospel reading of Jesus’ betrayal, suffering and death,  the lessons at the Eucharist also refer to Christ as the one who is obedient and rejected (Isaiah), and obedient to death on a cross (Philippians).  The passage from Philippians goes on to declare the exaltation and glorification of Jesus, so that even on Passion Sunday, we are a people who rejoice in the power of God who raises Jesus. We do not celebrate human suffering, but God who acts for us in costly ways.

Comment: People who “rock the boat” are not welcome in any context.  The words and actions of Jesus are too much for the leaders of Jerusalem to bear, and they move to have him silenced permanently.  The truth is that anyone who is prepared to follow Christ is going to “rock the boat” when, to borrow from the St. Francis prayer, they “sow love where there is hatred” and “light where there is darkness.”  No one wants their prejudices and comforts unsettled.  May we have the courage to walk with Christ in this “sowing” of God’s life”, trusting the Lord who will meet us even in death.

 David S. Robinson, Rector

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33

Dear Friends,

The Prophet Jeremiah announces a new covenant between God and his people.  Unlike the covenant given through Moses, written on stone, this covenant will be “written” upon the hearts of the people, and they shall know God, and God will forgive their previous covenant unfaithfulness.

The Letter to the Hebrews describes the priesthood of Jesus.  By his faithfulness and “reverent submission” to God, Jesus becomes the source of life with God for all who obey him.

In John’s Gospel we hear of some Greeks who wish to see Jesus.  Jesus declares that it is time for him to be glorified – he will be lifted up for all to see.  But the way to that glory is a surprise: it is the grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies that bears much fruit, and he calls his disciples to follow him in this way of dying to the world in order to be raised up in God’s life.

Comments:  Our readings describe for us a God who seeks a heart to heart relationship with us.  When I see Jesus, I see what that kind of heart to heart communion really looks like and I am humbled.  His trust in God, even when facing death with “loud cries and tears,” seems impossible for me to duplicate. The amazing good news of our faith is that Jesus has done this for us. We need only to welcome the gift of his sacrifice.  His heart and mind are one with God the Father! He brings me into the Father’s life under the wings of his own genuine and complete trust. So I cling to his promise: “Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.”  My service in the name of Jesus is flawed and faltering, but how can I not offer it to him? He asks not for perfection, but for love.

Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-9
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15

Dear Friends,

I’ve been reminded of a simple method of approaching scripture that I will try to apply during these reflections as we go through the season of Lent.  It is to ask three things of a passage: What does this teach about God? What does this tell us about humanity?  If this is God’s message to us, what must we do or how must we change in response?

The reading from Genesis 9 comes at the conclusion of the story of Noah and the flood.  We might see here that God wants to be in a Covenant relationship with people.  Human beings can turn away from that relationship, and if so they perish (literally or spiritually). This is not God’s desire, but a consequence of our own choices.

In the story of Jesus’ baptism and temptation at the beginning of Mark’s Gospel, we see that God is a gracious Father who declares his love and favor for his Son.  When Jesus declares how the gracious love and purpose of God has come near to the people, we are called to trust and act upon that good news as wholeheartedly as does Jesus!  But immediately this grace and obedience is put to the test – to be human is to be tempted not to embrace and trust God’s gracious purpose at work in our lives.

1 Peter 3 declares that God wants to bring us to himself, and takes action through the suffering and resurrection of Jesus Christ to make it possible for us to return.  Peter also envisions Jesus ‘descending into hell’ when he describes Jesus going to declare God’s message to the ‘spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey.’  We might see here that people are given every opportunity to be restored to God.

Comment: It is clear that what I must do is “repent and believe” – that is – to live with trust in God, ready to obey and live as the beloved sons and daughters of God. It is also clear that I will be tempted in many ways to disregard the voice of God and listen to many other “influences” that seek to lead me away from trusting in and acting with God.  Be encouraged: as the wild beasts did not harm Jesus in the desert, so they have no power over you and me.  The angels of God are with us in the way of obedience.

2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9

Dear Friends,

This Sunday that precedes the season of Lent always focuses on the story of Jesus when he is “transfigured” in prayer as recorded in Mark’s Gospel.  Matthew and Luke also tell this story of the experience of a small group of disciples. They see Jesus radiant with a light and intensity that was not produced by human techniques (“as no fuller on earth could bleach them”) but could only be the radiance of Divine presence.  Along with this, they see a vision of Elijah and Moses with Jesus.  It is noteworthy that this moment is brief, and the disciples are not to build a shrine to the moment, but rather to listen (follow and obey) Jesus, the beloved Son of God.

2 Kings gives us another dramatic moment when Elisha sees his master, the prophet Elijah, taken up in the glory of God.  Again the focus is not so much on the dramatic event itself, but in what needs to follow as Elisha will take up the work that his master left for him to carry.

Speaking to the Christians in Corinth, Paul notes how the glory of Christ is veiled to people who are blinded by their focus on the “god of this world.”  After all, Paul is preaching a glory that sounds different from what the world calls glory – a Jesus who suffered and was crucified before he was raised.  To most people this is not a glory they want to share, but a scandal and a stumbling block. Who would want to follow and obey this man?

Comment:  What is glorious in our eyes?  In the Christian Gospels, the high point is not the story of Jesus when he is radiant on the mountain top in the company of three disciples. Even the resurrection stories of the Gospels are somewhat muted. The high point is the witness to Jesus’ suffering and dying on a cross – universally considered a shameful death. This is shocking, and if it isn’t, we are fooling ourselves. The invitation to me and you  as we prepare for Lent, is not to build shrines that shut out the world and bask in the promise of glory to come. There are moments of this to be sure, but our immediate and urgent call is to follow Christ now in the hard work of bearing God’s light to a dark and often hostile world.

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28

Dear Friends,

Deuteronomy 18:15-20. Surrounded by many nations who practiced witchcraft, consulted mediums, or cast fortunes in various ways, Moses reminds the people of Israel that the Lord raises up prophets to guide them, just as Moses himself was led by God to guide Israel.  God takes the initiative and provides true spiritual leadership to his people, in contrast to people taking the initiative through various human methods and practices. And woe to those who abuse the calling of God!

Mark 1:21-28: Mark begins the story of Jesus’ life and ministry with the authority that was seen in his teaching, and the power to heal and free people from unclean forces (spirits).  The unclean spirits know who Jesus is – the Holy One of God – but he is not ready for his ministry to “get political” and so silences them.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13. Paul takes on the controversy in this community over food that has been offered in non-Christian idol worship.  “Strong” Christians, who know that idols are nothing, felt free to eat as they chose.  Paul however, challenges their lack of love for their “weaker” brothers and sisters who are troubled by the practice.  Far more important than “knowing better” and upsetting others, is love that considers how to build up and bear with others who may be weak. Paul refuses to eat in a controversial way that gives unnecessary harm to the less well informed conscience of these weaker believers.

Comment:  The people hearing Jesus recognized in him an authority that was qualitatively different from the scholars and religious leaders of their time. Mark’s gospel makes clear there is one place and person to whom we should go – the one who has authority from God to teach, heal, and save – Jesus, the Holy One of God.  It is easy for me to say, “Jesus is my Lord,” and say he is the authority for my life. But how do I work this out every day?  How does my life show this?  I know that I need to place myself, and then “re-place” myself under the authority of Jesus Christ, again and again, more and more deeply, day after day!  If I really do this, it should be evident to the people around me.

David S. Robinson, Rector

Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

Dear Friends,

The reluctant prophet Jonah, having learned that he could not run away from God (chapters 1 and 2), now follows the Lord’s desire that he go and call the people of Nineveh to turn away from their evil deeds.  The entire city hears the word of God from Jonah and repents, and they are saved from destruction.

Saint Paul, in his letter to Corinth, shares the view of the first generation of Christians that the world order as we know it was going to be replaced within their lifetime by the final coming Kingdom of God.  This creates an exceptional urgency that overrides their ordinary priorities.  As the time is now short to prepare for The Lord’s coming, good but lesser commitments must take second place to an alert attention to the call of the Lord upon us.

Mark’s Gospel tells us of Jesus calling ordinary fisherman to be his disciples.  They drop what they are doing and follow him.  A disciple of that day would be expected to attach themselves to their master/rabbi in a complete way: to go where he goes, learn by memory what he teaches, do what he does, and bring others into the same kind of disciple relationship.  So it is that these fisherman are told they will now seek to catch up people into the way of Jesus.

Comment: Most of us can identify more easily with the reluctant Jonah who avoided God’s call than with the fishermen who dropped their nets to follow Jesus. Jesus wants every one of us to be caught up in God’s great project that every man, woman and child know the love of his Father and be drawn to know, trust, and serve our God.  But I am always distracted from this, getting caught up in the many demands and details of my daily life that are good and necessary.  In the midst of this “stuff” of my life, I’m challenged to never forget to also be “caught up” in the call of God in Jesus. I need the reminder that the very daily and ordinary events of my life are the “arena” where I am called to honor God and display to others the life Jesus gives to me!