Lectionary Notes - Pentecost 3A

Lectionary Notes - 3rd Sunday after Pentecost

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Readings for 2nd Pentecost, 6/1/08:

Genesis 6:11-22, 7:24, 8:14-19, Psalm 46, Romans 1:16-17, 3:22b-28 (29-31), Matthew 7:21-29

Genesis 6:11-22, 7:24, 8:14-19:

This hodge-podge of texts recounts Noah and the flood. Whatever you make of this story - a literal account or a figurative teaching story, I think a good question is: what foolish-seeming things would you be willing to do at God's commands? What is the craziest thing you have done for God so far?
What do you think the earth was like right before the flood? God declares that it is "filled with violence" because of the humans living there. It is easy to make present-day comparisons, isn't it?
This story also shows God's hand as directly causing natural disasters. In light of events like the tsunamis that devastated Southeast Asia, I think we have to be extremely careful and responsible about how we see God's role in such events. I have a blog post about it here, directing you to a good article by Peter Sawtell.

Psalm 46:

This psalm most definitely ties in to the floods described in our Genesis lesson.
The first verses make a good sort of prayer - "therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change..."
"Be still, and know that I am God!" Do you have stillness in your life? I find that I am very seldom still - even when "relaxing" my mind is busy, or I'm on the internet, or something. When are you still? Quiet? Only basking in God's presence?

Romans 1:16-17, 3:22b-28 (29-31):

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel." Have you ever felt ashamed of the gospel? Your faith? When I was young, I was extremely embarrassed when it came to admitting to and talking about my faith - I didn't want to be made fun of. As an adult, and a pastor(!), I don't have that problem anymore. But I think we can also be ashamed of living the gospel sometimes - of making choices that people don't understand, or go against the flow.
"there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his graces as a gift." Listen to those inclusive words of Paul! There is room for everyone in God's loving grace in Paul's vision.
This is a great faith vs. works passage (as is most of Romans, actually.) Paul has a vision of who the gospel is for that is so much wider than the vision of many of his contemporaries, because he realizes from the start that we can't "earn" God's love any more than we can earn the love of others.

Matthew 7:21-29:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." Hold this in tension with Paul's words. I don't think they contradict, though they may at first seem to. I love these words of Jesus, because they call us to accountability. It is too easy to pretend that you just have to "confess that Jesus is savior" in some formulaic prayer and all will be ok. Jesus says we have work to do! Actions, not empty words.
I had a couple use this passage about the foundations as the reading at their wedding. I thought it was a lot more powerful than the "overused" 1 Corinthians 13. What is your foundation? We want to say our faith, our God is our foundation. Are we being truthful with ourselves?
"for he taught as one having authority." Who has authority for you? How is one granted authority?

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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