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Lectionary Notes -8th Sunday after Pentecost
Readings for
8th Sunday after Pentecost, 7/6/08:
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67, Psalm 45:10-17, Romans
7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67:
- The Bible can't be said to have a lot of romance in it
- Song of Songs, yes, but not much else. As far as romances go, I love the
story of Rebekah and Isaac. Obviously, it is not a current-day model I'd want
to use, but otherwise, it's a great love story, a match-making story. "He took
Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her." Words of love, even, are
not often exchanged in the Bible.
Psalm 45:10-17:
- This scene describes a royal wedding. As a piece of
scripture, I don't find much inspiring, frankly, here. In this particular
section, there isn't even a mention of God to inspire. What do you find here?
Romans 7:15-25a:
- This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible,
because, to me, it sums up our human condition. We do exactly the thing it is
we are trying so hard not to do. I believe in human goodness - God declared us
good at our creation. But I also believe in human sinfulness! Sin dwells with
in us. Where is our hope?
- Paul asks too, "who will rescue [us?] Thanks be to God
through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
- What are the patterns of sin in which you find
yourself caught? We all have things that weigh on us because we face the
struggle that Paul describes. How do you deal with your struggle? How do you
let grace work in and through your struggle with sin?
Matthew 11:16-19,
25-30:
- "damned if you do, damned if you don't" - that's Jesus'
complaint here. Do we want a leader who refrains from worldly pleasures and is
a loner like John the Baptist? Do we want a leader who is the life of the
party, like Jesus? Both were criticized for their very opposite lifestyles.
Why? Two possibilities, I think. Either 1) We get so distracted by the
packaging that we won't hear the message. This reminds me of a quote
Tony Campolo often uses:
"I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping
last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to
malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. What's worse is that
you're more upset with the fact that I said 'shit' than the fact that 30,000
kids died last night." Or 2) We focus on the packaging because we see
the message and we don't want to deal with it. What do you think?
- "come to me" - these are some of the most beautiful
words of the gospel, I think. And notice - Jesus doesn't say that we will be
burden-free, but that we will have rest and our burden (read: work, duty,
mission, responsibility) will be light and easy because Christ is "gentle and
humble in heart" and will help us. Sign me up!
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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