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Lectionary Notes -
First Sunday of Advent
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Readings for First Sunday of Advent, 12/3/06:
Jeremiah 33:14-16, Psalm 25:1-10, 1 Thessalonians
3:9-13, Luke 21:25-36
Jeremiah 33:14-16:
- "surely" - check out the Advents texts this cycle. The
world 'surely' appears almost every week. Maybe that's nothing, but I like it
- it's a word of promise, a word of sure fulfillment. Definite.
- "Fulfill the promise." What promises have you made? Broken? Kept? Which
have other made/broken/kept with you? What promise is Jeremiah referencing
here? Do you believe God fulfills promises made to you? The world? How?
- "execute justice" - I like this phrase, because it has such a different
meaning than the meaning 'execute' usually has in our system of justice today.
Today, when we execute, we mean we take life for life out of revenge. But God
means bringing real justice to those who have been oppressed. That's execution
in justice that I can support and work for.
- A name: "The Lord is our righteousness." That is a powerful name. What
does your name mean? What would you like God to call you?
Psalm 25:1-10:
- The psalmist mentions shame several times - his shame,
the shame of those obedient to God, shame he hopes is put on others by God.
Shame is a powerful emotion, a powerful motivator, a powerful weapon of
oppression. Of what are you ashamed in yourself? In others? How do you
shame others? Does God shame us?
- "Do not remember the sins of my youth or my
transgressions" - Many people probably echo the psalmists worries - will be
judged by all the things we did when we didn't know any better? I think we can
trust in God's abundant grace, who calls us into a more mature discipleship.
Indeed, verses 8 and 9 talk about God as a teacher, The One who instructs us.
How have you learned/grown in your faith over the years? Are you a mature
disciple? Or an early student?
- "Be mindful of your mercy." That's sort of an audacious
thing to say to God!
- "way," "paths," etc. This psalm has good Advent
imagery, relating to our journey toward Christ's birth. .
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13:
- This reading opens with high praise - "how can we thank
God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God
because of you?" Who has brought this kind of joy into your life? Have you
thanked them? How? Has someone thanked you for such a thing? I think so often
we don't thank each other, praise each other enough, especially for the gifts
of service given in the life of the church. And yet, giving thanks for one
another is a powerful thing to do, and is sooo appreciated.
- Vs. 11-13 are great words of blessing - a good
benediction perhaps. "May God direct our way to you." "May God make you to
abound in love for one another and for all." "May God strengthen your hearts
in holiness." Those are blessings I'd like to receive.
Luke 21:25-36:
- Advent always begins with surprising "end times" texts
that probably catch parishioners off-guard, who are ready to sing Christmas
carols. How do we refocus them and us? This text is about time, and
expectations and waiting. So is Advent. What we do while we wait is important.
Whether or not we live like something exciting is going to happen in our world
by God is important.
- It is easy to look around our world and see evidence of
these signs Jesus is talking about, and get pretty worked up about
"Armageddon"-type stuff. But is that how Jesus means us to react to this text?
He says that when we see such signs, we'll know that "your redemption is
drawing near" and that "you know that the kingdom of God is near." Elsewhere,
we understand that Jesus means these things are already hear. Now is the time
that we are redeemed, and now is the time that the kingdom is at hand.
Now and soon, coming and already here. That is the crux, the irony, the
strangeness of advent, the kingdom, and the whole gospel.
- "Be on guard" - I think in the world today we're often
told to be on guard - we're to be on guard against terrorists, suspicious
activities and packages, etc. Being on guard always in this way can be
exhausting. Is this what Jesus means? I don't think so. In fact, he says
almost the opposite. We're to be on guard against being weighed down
with the "worries of this life" so that Christ's coming doesn't catch us not
ready. I think God often tries to enter into our lives and hearts but finds us
not ready. This is what Jesus wants us to live ready for.
- "this generation will not pass
away until all things have taken place."
Another passage talking about end times, if that's only as far as you are
wanting to look. Better to think of it this way: so often in my life I am
putting things off - procrastinating - not so much about day to day things,
like sermon-writing :), etc., but about big things: I will start giving more
... when I'm out of debt. I will take risks for God .... after I get my PhD.
I will speak out about what I really believe .... after I'm ordained elder
(Ok, I can check that one off my list now...).
But God arrives unexpectedly. I should stop acting like I have something
to wait for before I get to work the way God wants me to. The time is NOW.
Pastor’s Note: (I use the
Greek-English Lexicon from Liddell and Scott,
the “little Liddell” and the Metzger et. al Greek New Testament in my translation
work.)
Lectionary Notes are from
Rev. Beth Quick.
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