Weekly Bible Notes

Ordinary 8 Year A

Introduction

May 25, 2008 Because Easter falls so early this year, the Methodist lectionary provides for the readings from the Eighth Sunday after Epiphany to be used today.
Isaiah 49:8-16a Psalm 131 or Psalm 62:5-12 (UMH 787) 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 6:24-34 - Our commentary follows these readings

Julian of Norwich (c1342– after 1413) was an English mystic and Benedictine nun, she was also an anchoress. This means that she walled into the Norman Church of St Julian in Norwich during a mass for the dead. From this cell she ate frugal meals, and days in contemplative prayer. .She had many reasons to worry about life, she lived during the Black Death that killed 75 million people in medieval Europe. Many people interpreted the bubonic plague as divine punishment, but not Julian. In her unapologetically optimistic view of life, she believed that God loved every person and that he would redeem every tear. In her book of visions called Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love — by some accounts the first book published in English that was written by a woman — Julian wrote one of the most well-known sentences in all of Christian history that's also the perfect antidote to worry. In her thirteenth vision or "shewing," Julian concluded that she was wrong to worry about the sins and sorrows of life. Jesus told her that these trials and tribulations were, in fact, "behovely" (from which we get our word "behoove"). Even our sins and anxieties are somehow incumbent upon us. They're part of our human story. Despite "all the pains that ever were, or ever shall be," Julian believed that God longs to "comforteth readily and sweetly." He does so by reassuring us that, because of the certainty of his boundless love, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."

And this word: Thou shalt not be overcome, was said full clearly and full mightily, for assuredness and comfort against all tribulations that may come. He said not: thou shalt not be tempted, thou shalt not be afflicted; but he said: Thou shalt not be overcome. God willeth that we take heed to these words, and that we be ever strong in sure trust, in weal and woe. For he loveth and enjoyeth us, and so willeth he that we love and enjoy him and mightily trust in him; and all shall be well.
 

Opening Verses of Scripture   Philippians Chapter 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 

Collect Prayer for the Day — Before we read we pray

O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that, in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen. Common Worship

God of truth, help us to keep your laws of love and to walk in ways of wisdom, that we may find true life in Jesus Christ your Son.  Common Worship Shorter Collect

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right; that we, who can do no good thing without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  Methodist Worship

God of tenderness and compassion, you led your people into the desert, and made them your own in love and faithfulness. By word and sacrament renew in us your covenant love, that we may rejoice in your gift of new life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  Methodist Worship  

First Bible Reading  Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18

The LORD said to Moses,
"Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

"'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.
Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.
"'Do not steal. "'Do not lie. "'Do not deceive one another.
"'Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
"'Do not defraud your neighbour or rob him. "'Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.
"'Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.
"'Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favouritism to the great, but judge your neighbour fairly.
"'Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbour's life. I am the LORD.
"'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbour frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
"'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD.
 

Second Reading  1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
 

Gospel Reading  Matthew Chapter 5:38-48

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
 

Alternate Readings

1. 1saiah 49: 8-16a

This is what the LORD says: "In the time of my favour I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, 'Come out,' and to those in darkness, 'Be free!' "They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. See, they will come from afar-- some from the north, some from the west, some from the region of Aswan." Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
 

2. 1 Corinthians 4: 1-5

So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
 

3. Matthew 6: 24-34

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
 

Post Communion Sentence

Eternal Father, we thank you for nourishing us with these heavenly gifts: may our communion strengthen us in faith, build us up in hope, and make us grow in love; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Commentary

COMMENTARY

In today’s Epistle, Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, he is trying to give encouragement and support to those who are feeling discouraged on their Christian journey. He says he never loses heart on the task God has given him to do, in spite of all he suffered in that task, He tells what inspires him to keep going on
First there is the awareness of the magnitude of what he has to do, and when he realises that, it motivates him just as it will motivate us to do quite amazing things beyond our imagination, bringing added strength to the task.

Secondly, there was immense gratitude for the mercy received from God despite all Paul had done to harm the Christians before his conversion. He now wanted to do all he could to make atonement for his actions no matter what the cost.

Sometimes our intentions are misinterpreted and our words twisted to give a wrong impression, or are taken out of context. This accusation faced Paul. He was accused of being dishonest and unscrupulous, distorting the gospel message. If such a great servant of the Lord was to suffer so, we perhaps can be encouraged to endure the attacks on us,
Paul was the supreme missionary. Apart from writing half of the New Testament, he travelled the whole of the ancient world planting Churches and preaching the gospel. His words still influence and form the basis for countless messages. He insists that anyone with an open mind would be bound to accept the Christian message in view of the simple way he proclaimed it. In spite of this, there were those who just would not accept and believe his teaching. To them Paul said they were allowing their minds to be blinded so that they could not believe.
All through the Bible the men who wrote the various books tell of the power of evil in the world. Sometimes they call that power Satan or the Devil. Jesus Himself spoke of the power of this world, and in His teaching of the Lord’s Prayer, used the words ‘that we be delivered from the power of the evil one’.

A casual glance at any newspaper reveals the extent of evil in the world, and as matter of personal experience we all know how real evil is. Those who cannot, or will not, accept the good news of Christ are those who have given themselves over to the evil of the world so that they are unable to accept God’s message God never wilfully abandons people, rather He lets them face the consequences.
Paul emphasises that in Jesus Christ we see God and shows us what God is like. Jesus said, ‘he that hath seen me hath seen the Father’. Paul always preached that people should not look at him or believe in him, but look to Christ in order that they should see the glory of God come to earth in a form all can understand. (Eric Royden)

 

Meditation

It is so easy to lose heart and question one’s faith as we experience problems, heartache in our daily life, and to see all our efforts to encourage those around us to share in our faith come to nothing. No one however experienced more discouragement than Paul. Having experienced divine intervention and conversion his entire life was devoted to proclaiming the faith he at one time so fiercely opposed. In consequence he suffered beatings, hardship, persecution, arrest and illness, yet never gave up and always trusted his Lord. Often the difficulties we face can be a test of our faith. As we remember the suffering of Jesus on our behalf it should inspire us to persevere. Doubt comes into every heart, and it has been said that a person who has never doubted has never fully believed. We can never argue a person into believing, we just have to present the message and leave the Holy Spirit to act. We face unprecedented attacks on our faith from television, where there is such a strong anti-Christian bias. When any Christian presentation is shown, it is invariably of a very liberal interpretation, by people whose faith is to say the least rather tenuous. In the words of the hymn, ‘be strong, be bold, for the Lord your God is with you’ (Eric Royden)

Hymns

1. All my hope on God is founded 16

2. There is a redeemer. 673

3. Take my life 624

4. Breathe on me breath of God 67

5. I the Lord of sea and sky (On Partnership News)
   
    

Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead

Additional Material

 

 

 

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