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Lectionary Notes -12th Sunday after Pentecost
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Readings for
12th Sunday after Pentecost, 8/3/08:
Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 17:1-7, 15, Romans 9:1-5,
Matthew 14:13-21
Genesis 32:22-31:
- This is just a fantastic passage. We all wrestle with
God, but there are lots of ways to go about it. Jacob's approach is great -
Jacob wrestles, holds his own, and demands a blessing. OK, so it is God's
messenger - but good enough. How do you wrestle with God?
- Are you willing and able to ask God to bless you?
Demand it even?
- "I have seen God face to face." Have you? When? Where?
How?
Psalm 17:1-7, 15:
- This psalm fits well with our passage from Genesis,
because the psalmist is bold and demanding. The psalmist declares himself to
be free from deceit, able to withstand testing, feet not slipping from God's
path.
- Sometimes we need to be bold with God - not for God's
sake, but for our sake. Fear of God's justice has its place, but confidence in
our status as God's beloved children with whom God seeks relationship also has
its place.
- Read the in-between verse too. For once, they are not
totally, just partially, about God smiting enemies. They do also include the
phrase "apple of the eye" - did you know that was from the Bible?
Romans 9:1-5:
- This is an odd little snippet of
scripture. What is here? Paul's passion that his people, the Israelites, would
hear God's message. He has "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" for them as he
worries about their salvation. Who do you worry about? Whose walk with God are
you anguished over, hoping for them that they find the hope you have found?
Matthew 13:31-33,
44-52:
- Did you know that the feeding of the 5000 is the only
miracle recorded in all four gospels?
- Food holds such a critical place in the scriptures.
Jesus talks about being spiritually fed lots of times. But he doesn't overlook
the importance of alleviating literal hunger!
- Some look at this as a literal miracle. Others read
this passage as a miracle of sharing and abundance in a more figurative sense.
I say: either way, it is a miracle indeed. People were hungry, then were fed.
People were enabled to stay and hear Jesus preach.
- Abundance - there was more than enough to go around.
This is a great statement for today - we live in a world of abundance, but
perceive ourselves to be in a world of scarcity. Jesus tries to show us our
abundance. Can you see it? Live it?
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.)
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