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Lectionary Notes -15th Sunday after Pentecost
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Readings for
15th Sunday after Pentecost, 8/24/08:
Exodus 1:8-2:10, Psalm 124, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew
16:13-20
Exodus 1:8-2:10:
- "Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know
Joseph . . ." This is a great opening to explain how people once joined to
Egypt under Joseph's protection because slaves of those same people - history
was forgotten. We forget history, even today, even with all of our technology
and archiving and ways to preserve - we forget what has happened, and act in
ignorance.
- Could you be like the midwives? I admire their bravery.
Perhaps we think it would be easy to refuse to kill these newborns, but
commanded by the King? They were disobeying orders from the highest level -
that takes courage.
Psalm 124:
- "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side" -
whose side is God on? Is God always on our side? Is God always on the winning
side? We want God to be on our side, but we'd do better to seek to be on
God's side of things...
- this psalm is in thanks to God for escape from enemies.
I've never had to literally flee from enemies, but I can relate, figuratively,
to what the psalmist is feeling. From what dangerous persons/situations have
you escaped by God's grace?
Romans 12:1-8:
- "Do not be conformed to this
world" - so many ways to take that, aren't there? We're called to be somehow
different than others who have not known and embraced the grace that God
offers all of us. What difference has God's grace made in your life? If your
life is no different than anyone else's, what does that say?
- Many gifts, one body of Christ.
What is your gift? Are you using your gifts? How are you helping others find
and use their gifts? Do you let others know how valuable their gifts are?
- Not only are we members of the
body of Christ, but we are "members one of another" - I've never noticed that
phrase before. In Christ's body, I'm a member of you, and you are a member of
me. Do we live like we believe that?
Matthew 16:13-20:
- "Who do you say that I am?" When all is said and
done, Jesus cares more about how each of us answers that question individually
than he does about how others answer that question from our viewpoint. Who is
he to you? What is your answer?
- In a way, answering this question is the sign of mature
faith. We can't let others answer for us, let others' answers stand as our own
answers. We have to decide, we have to say it and claim it and live who Jesus
is. It's powerful, answering for ourselves.
- Jesus shows us the power of knowing in the power he
gives to Peter. Why not tell others he was the Messiah? Perhaps it is because
we all have to come to that answer on our own - we can't be told - we have to
find our own answers.
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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