Prayers of the People: Tilling the Ground of Our Being ~ 7th Sunday after the Epiphany WLWC* ‘25 Yr C

For Sunday, February 23, 2025; Readings: Genesis 47:13-25, Psalm 107: 1-3, 35-43; Acts 5:1-11, 

Luke 8:1-15

  

                The Four Soils by Minkar

  Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe and the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. Then Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the grain that they bought, and Joseph brought the money into the house of Pharaoh… Buy us and our land for food and we with our land will become slaves to Pharaoh; now give us seed that we may live and not die and that the land not become desolate.” Thus Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh and every Egyptian sold their fields because the famine pressed down upon them and the land became Pharaoh’s. As for the people, he moved them to cities [and made slaves of them] from one end of the border of Egypt to the other end…They said, “You have saved our lives; may it find pleasure in your eyes my lord, we will be slaves to Pharaoh.” [Genesis 47: 13-14, 19b-21, 25]

   And she has gathered them from all the lands…She turns deserts into pools of water, and dry ground into springs of water. And there she settles the hungry…Then she elevates the needy from affliction, and makes their families like flocks…They will come to understand the faithful love of the SHEPHERDING GOD. [Psalm 107:3a, 35-36a, 41, 43b]

   Now a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold some property. And he kept back some of the proceeds…and brought only a part and placed it at the feet of the apostles. “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to withhold the proceeds of the land?...You did not lie to [mere] mortals but to God!” [Acts 5:1-3, 4c]

   Now a great crowd of women, children, and men gathered, coming to Jesus town by town and he said in a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow seed and while sowing some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And another batch fell on rock and as it grew up, it withered having no moisture. 7 And other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Yet more fell onto good ground, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.” As Jesus said this he called out, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” [Luke 8:4-9]

   We begin the readings this week with Joseph, whose extensive backstory [worth a re-reading in Genesis chapters 37-50] may be remembered more for his “coat of many colors,” yet has much more for us to know. As the quintessential annoying and spoiled little brother, his jealous older brothers wanted to kill him and then decided to sell him into slavery in Egypt.

   Because of the same famine in the Genesis reading for this week, in the Revised Common Lectionary, the brothers have been forced to go to Egypt to seek food and find their little brother in charge of the distribution of Pharoah’s stores. Joseph warmly receives them much to their [and perhaps even our own] surprise. Here we move into a different piece of Joseph’s story, as Dr. Gafney again, presents us with a passage never read in the usual Sunday or Daily Lectionary. Can we imagine being so desperate as to sell ourselves into slavery, whatever that would be for today? Consider, in these days and times, with many beyond mere desperation, with little or no option for food, shelter, or healthcare. In reading all of this passage, we see that Joseph has the authority to be generous and is indeed generous to all who come to him for sustenance in the short and the long terms, even volunteering themselves as slaves for Pharoah.

   The Psalmist gives us a poetic rendering of life in our own times as well as in the ancient past. The full psalm, Parts I, II, and III, are also worth the full reading whether in your favorite translation or paraphrase, or from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer [BCPonline.org]. We see the fearful who become thankful and the rebellious who learn from their mistakes. In Dr. Gafney’s translation as well, and more or less the same in other versions, my favorite line is the second part of verse 42: but all wickedness will shut its mouth.

   This piece from Acts is perplexing for a variety of reasons, mostly because, with Peter’s severe chastisement, the quickly deceased couple, are guilty of as Dr. Gafney puts it, a crime without occasion because there was no requirement to give any of their wealth, though that was the common practice. As Peter finds them convicted of lying to the Holy Spirit, perhaps there was a prior pledge made by Ananias that we aren’t told about. It certainly puts me on notice for my current and future pledging.

   In this Gospel reading, we find yet another interesting piece which we haven’t heard in the usual lectionary before, a prelude to the familiar Parable of the Sower, a regular in our customary readings. Yet in the NRSV, the NKJV, the NIV and others use this beginning and all mention several of women by name and many others, who in various phrasings, are providing for them, that is Jesus and the Twelve, out of their resources/out of their substance/out of their own means. In her use of these passages, it certainly puts a spotlight on what is usually in the shadows, or unnoticed at best ~ the true prominence of women in the ministry of Jesus and the Twelve.

    Many of us have and many of us have not spent much time reading the Bible. For those of us who have, we still seem to only remember the pieces we hear regularly through the Revised Common Lectionary in all three weekly and two daily of its sets of readings. I have not remembered these passages from Genesis, Acts, or Luke, though I have read all of these completely, but not recently, nor do I remember all of Psalm 107, although bits of it are familiar. These translations and their use are difficult for some who only want what is familiar. Yet, for me, these pieces can fill out our perspectives, and give light and breadth and depth to the entirety of our informed Faith and its Narrative, push me to wonder and wander further into these texts and other commentaries.

   A thread that winds through these readings is money and persistence. Money, wealth, and such resources in and of themselves are neither good nor bad, despite one source showing 30+ biblical quotes reflecting the usual adage that money is the root of all evil. Rather, these are tools for walking through this journey of life. Some are gifted with or earn much, some are relatively comfortable, and some for a variety of reasons have far less. So it is and has always been. How we use these resources speaks volumes about our priorities, our faith, and, even our character. How we persist in trying to make a positive difference with whatever we have also speaks to our priorities for all of God’s Creation.

   As we look at life today, especially in light of these passages, we know that there are several enormous chasms dividing the really haves, the sort of haves, and the really do-not haves. How we reach into those divisions is both personal and communal, a call to each and all of us to pay attention, to act however we are able, even if we can only show up with an extra blanket, to help serve a meal, or to spend time and/or donate in whatever other way we can. Of course we cannot solve the problems of our local community let alone the entire world individually, but we can make a difference in a minute, an hour, or a day, for someone somewhere. We can gather together and make a loud noise for those who have ears to hear and to listen and who can do more, to do so.  We can till the ground of our own beings and through our sowing of prayer, of care, and of persistence, we can produce a fruitful bounty of spiritual seeds to grow within us and to scatter among all we meet.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Faithful SHEPHERDING GOD, grant us each the wisdom, the desire, and the willingness to till, nourish, and tend the ground of our hearts and souls. May we flourish, flower, and bear the fruit of your divine Seed for our spiritual health, through which we become the sowers of your love and grace, in all of our thoughts, words, and actions.

                                                O Christ, God’s Word Incarnate

            Response:              Open us to listen, grow, reap, and sow

~ FAITHFUL SHEPHERDING GOD, impel the hearts, minds, and souls of all who govern across cities, villages, towns, counties, states, and countries upon this Earth, to act always with the highest ethical, moral, and spiritual intent for everyone they lead. We pray especially for: add your own petitions         

                                                O Christ, God’s Word Incarnate

                                                Open us to listen, grow, reap, and sow

~ FAITHFUL SHEPHERDING GOD, ease the distress for those who are poor in health, in spirit, or in the basic needs of life, and for those who selflessly aid and comfort them. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                O Christ, God’s Word Incarnate

                                                Open us to listen, grow, reap, and sow

~ FAITHFUL SHEPHERDING GOD, soften the grief for all who are bereft, as our beloved, raised to new life in glory and joy, are now with You for all eternity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O Christ, God’s Word Incarnate

                                                Open us to listen, grow, reap, and sow

~ FAITHFUL SHEPHERDING GOD, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions

                                                O Christ, God’s Word Incarnate

                                                Open us to listen, grow, reap, and sow

~ FAITHFUL SHEPHERDING GOD, grant extra blessings for those who lead us in Your Church as they inspire and encourage us, through Your Word and Sacraments, to take delight in and commit our ways and our lives entirely to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O Christ, God’s Word Incarnate

                                                Open us to listen, grow, reap, and sow

The Celebrant adds: O God WHO SAVES, create in us good and honest hearts, filled with Your divine seeds of faith sown in the comfort of Your mercy and the hope of the Resurrection. In our deeply held knowledge of Your enduring love, guide us to hold fast to Your call, elevate the needy from affliction, and yield abundant spiritual harvests for us all, as we flock together as Your Family. We ask through Jesus, Sower of all the good that blooms within us; and the Holy Spirit, Divine Nutrient for our souls; who together with You are our One God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

*Readings for our Parish in this Year C are from The Rev. Dr. Wilda [Wil] Gafney, Womanist biblical scholar, and the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church Yr C, and others in her series, and translator of its biblical selections. I definitely commend her book for the complete readings, to Clergy and Laity, for her Text Notes, and “Preaching Prompts” whether or not you will use them in your Liturgies/Services/Preaching. There is much to learn from her work to inform every facet of our lives in Christ.  To learn more about her and her work, see her website: https://www.wilgafney.com/

 

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: Even Now? ~ 7th Sunday after the Epiphany RCL Yr C '25

For Sunday, February 23, 2025; Readings: Genesis 45:3-11,15; Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42; 

1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38

   

   Then Joseph said to his brothers…do not be distressed , or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here…And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them… [Genesis 45:5a, 15]

   Do not fret yourselves over evil doers…for they shall wither like grass…Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him…Do not fret…over the one who prospers, the one who succeeds in evil schemes…Refrain from anger, leave rage alone…deliverance of the righteous comes from the Lord, he is their stronghold…because they seek refuge in him. [Psalm 37:1a-2a, 5a,8, 9a, 41b, 42b]

   So it is with the resurrection of the dead…What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor…it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. 

[1 Corinthians 15:42-44a]

   Jesus said, “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also*…Do to others as you would  have them do to you… “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them…or the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” [Luke 6:27-29a, 31-32,  38c]

    On the face of the readings, the theme is pretty simple: Do this, don’t do that and, love everyone. Do to others as you would have them do to you, do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned, says Jesus*, and all we have to do is love the unlovable and forgive the unforgivable. Sure, we’ve heard it all before but not so easy to practice, at least for me.

   The beginning point for this week’s lesson is Joseph forgiving his brothers. It is quite a dramatic story especially if you know the history that came before [Genesis 37, 39-50]. Joseph is the youngest, the favorite and most-beloved of his father, the tattletale, the dreamer of grandiose dreams, the very definition of the all-around annoying little brother. His older brothers took it to a whole different level leading to their mostly successful plot to be rid of him. It is a compelling account of the stuff of novels, films, and Broadway musicals. Yet, imagine being Joseph: could I/could you Love your enemies, especially your own family who plotted to kill you? Could I/could you do good to those who hate you? Can any of us refrain from anger at over threats, real and perceived, against family, friends,  and our “neighbors”?

   A priest friend once recounted a TV interview he saw with a man who had committed his life to working with young offenders. The man’s son had been recently murdered by such a person and the interviewer asked if he had forgiven the murderer. He said that he had forgiven him because the killer was just the kind of young person he was trying to help. Is that within or beyond my capacity to do, especially if that was my child? I seriously wonder, and it does put a troubling question to my faith that I must pray about and work on.

   It isn’t that Jesus is promoting a dismissal of appropriate blame and its consequences. There are judicial and other appropriate earth-bound consequences of our own and others’ actions. Rather, as we simply do not and will not know what transpires between God and the one who offended, we cannot, should not, must not assume the final verdict of God who knows what changes of heart and soul occur. It’s God’s job, not mine, to sort out the truly wicked evildoers and the truly righteous and faithful, and all in-between, and to judge, punish, reward accordingly. Hopefully, earthly legal systems will continue to do what they must and mostly should; in the earthly realm with and in faith with Christ, we are called to love and forgive, especially those who are the most difficult. It is, so very often, so very difficult.

   Yet before we can approach and attempt this challenging kind of love and forgiveness, we have to do some internal, self-directed work to believe ~ and accept ~ that God truly loves and forgives us, you, me. That is the hardest work of all, and it is where we must begin. For when we let go of judging ourselves, or at least begin to want to reduce and redirect it, knowing and believing how God loves and forgives us, we can be opened to love and forgive others, slightly more easily, at the very least. 

   In other words, I try to remember in Luke 6:38 that the measure I give out in this life is the measure I’ll get back in the next. Remember the Lord’s Prayer. Spend some time with it this week to read what it says, and go beyond the familiar syllables in recitation to clearer understanding. Look especially at: forgive Us our trespasses (sins), AS we forgive those who trespass against Us. Hear and feel deeply the importance of what it is we are truly asking. Rephrasing might change the perspective a bit and perhaps bring some discomfort if we say: forgive me my trespasses in the same way that I forgive them theirs. It's a radical departure to how we generally think and feel about loving and forgiving those we usually want nothing to do with. Or, honestly, those we secretly love to hate. Be one to love first, forgive next. OH and IT IS VERY HARD sometimes, especially now. But, of course we’re not talking about “romantic love.” We’re talking about the love that says, “it’s God’s job to judge, not mine.” And of course it doesn’t mean that we are to stop working for appropriate Justice. Oh, and the extra hard part: don't expect any gratitude or appreciation in return. And, no, you don’t have to deliver the love in person, it’s about freeing your own heart and soul. The practice of radical love and forgiveness feels like a long road in this life, yet revenge, as someone said, is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. This Love in this life, is the shortest path to receiving immeasurable love and forgiveness now and in the next. “Even now,” you say? Yes [insert several deep breaths here] even [especially] now.

      *"If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also." Walter Wink, [1935-2012] was a theologian and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. His easy-to-read article explains much more about this in a useful context. He said, in part:

    "If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also."  Why the right cheek? A blow by the right fist in that right-handed world would land on the left cheek of the opponent. An open-handed slap would also strike the left cheek.  To hit the right cheek with a fist would require using the left hand, but in that society the left hand was used only for unclean tasks. Even to gesture with the left hand at Qumran [site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery] carried the penalty of ten days' penance. The only way one could naturally strike the right cheek with the right hand would be with the back of the hand.  We are dealing here with insult, not a fistfight. The intention is clearly not to injure but to humiliate, to put someone in his or her place...A backhand slap was the usual way of admonishing inferiors.  Masters backhanded slaves; husbands, wives; parents, children; men, women; Romans, Jews. We have here a set of unequal relations, in each of which retaliation would be suicidal. The only normal response would be cowering submission. Click here for: Walter Wink on Turn the Other Cheek and beyond.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, grant us the courage and the strength of faith to trust in, and accept as true, Your all-encompassing love for each of our selves. Release us from judgment and anger that we may grant the same love, mercy, and compassion to all others as we receive from You.
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
              RESPONSE:               Urge our hearts to love and forgive
 
~ O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, impel the hearts, minds, and souls of all who govern across every location on this Earth, to act always with the highest ethical, moral, and spiritual intent for those they lead. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
                                                       Urge our hearts to love and forgive
 
~ O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, ease the distress for those who are poor in health, in spirit, or in the basic needs of life, and for those who selflessly aid and comfort them. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
                                                       Urge our hearts to love and forgive
 
~ O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, soften the grief for all who are bereft, as our beloved, raised to new life in glory and joy, are now with You for all eternity. We pray especially for... add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
                                                       Urge our hearts to love and forgive
 
~  O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
                                                       Urge our hearts to love and forgive
             
~ O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, grant extra blessings for those who lead us in Your Church as they inspire and encourage us, through Your Word and Sacraments, to take delight in and commit our ways and our lives entirely to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
                                                       Urge our hearts to love and forgive
             
The Celebrant adds: Merciful, Benevolent God, relieve us of distress, frustration, and rage over the wickedness of others, and leave that judgment to You. Heighten our desire to be as generous with our love and forgiveness in this life, as You have promised to return to us in the next. We ask through Jesus, our Risen Christ; and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom Guide; who together with You, are God Almighty, now and forever.  Amen

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

PRAYERS of the People: Saving Faith ~ 6th Sunday after the Epiphany, WLWC* Yr C

For Sunday, February 16, 2025; Readings: Numbers 5:11-24, 27-28; Psalm 7:1-8, 14-17; 

1 Corinthians 7:1-17, Luke 7:36-50

   Now the JUDGE OF ALL FLESH spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the women and men of Israel and say to them: If the wife of any man goes astray…and she has rendered herself unacceptable…or if a spirit of jealousy comes on him…and she has not rendered herself unacceptable…Then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and he shall bring the offering for her…it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of remembrance…of iniquity. Then the priest shall bring her near and set her before the JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH… [Numbers 5:11ff]

  SHELTERING ONE my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all who pursue me and deliver me… Rise up, THUNDERING GOD, in your anger; raise up in opposition to the wrath of my enemies; wake on my behalf the justice you have appointed… His troublemaking returns upon his own head, and on his head does their violence descend. ...I will give thanks to the JUDGE OF ALL FLESH according to her righteousness, and I shall sing praise to the Name of the HOLY GOD, the Most High.  [Psalm 7:1, 6, 16-17]

   Now, about what you have written: It is good for a man not to take hold of a woman. But because of sexual immorality, each man should have his own woman and each woman her own man. For the wife, the husband should do his duty and likewise the wife for her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, rather the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, yet the wife does…However let us each walk through life as the Holy One has designated and as God has called them. This is what I instruct all the churches.  [1 Corinthians 7:1-4, 17] 

   Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him…And suddenly, a woman who was in the city [known as] a sinner…brought… perfumed ointment...began with her tears to bathe his feet and with the hairs of her head dried them…the Pharisee said to himself, “If this man was ever a prophet, he would know…what kind of woman this is...touching him… a sinner…” Then Jesus replied [to his thoughts] and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you…” Jesus said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; water for my feet you gave not…No kiss [of peace]…Oil for my head you did not prepare…That is why I say to you, forgiven are her sins…And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” [Luke 7:36-50]

     I must say upfront that this was certainly the most challenging set of readings I’ve ever encountered as I head toward the completion of 4 sets of Years A, B, & C later this year. Of course, as Dr. Gafney intentionally provides us with non-Revised Common Lectionary readings, therein lies an explanation. As there is much in the first lesson from Numbers alone that requires detailed explanation, I will offer some, given the space I am using. I will always encourage you to read the texts in these lessons in the translation you prefer as a comparison to her translations, and in particular, to acquire, if you don’t already have, an annotated study Bible that has explanatory footnotes. You can find them on used book websites fairly inexpensively.

    The reading from Numbers offers us some insight to one particular ancient ritual that is sometimes referred to as “the jealousy offering” or “the ordeal of bitter water.” It’s all about a man deciding that his wife has been unfaithful with no evidence. So, he takes her to the priest for this “test” to prove whether or not she has rendered herself unacceptable or he is jealous…and she has rendered herself not unacceptable. There is symbolic use of the dust, holy water, and having her hair unbound…all to test the woman’s truth-telling. According to several sources, there was nothing biologically harmful. While this text says it contains that which, if guilty, the woman’s womb will swell and she’ll be forever infertile, it is considered to be a highly unlikely outcome. It puts me in mind of the Salem and other Witch Trials. THAT SAID, with its symbolism and drama it was a useful protection against what we would call today domestic violence or spousal abuse based on jealousy, and while most who were tested proved “innocent,” presumably, if by sheer nervousness alone, some would have been considered guilty by which her husband could have legally thrown her out to the proverbial wolves, murdered her, or have her executed. Hmmm, can you say misogyny? BUT, some ancient Jewish commentators suggest that the curse may well have worked against an adulterous male. Yet I wonder how often might a woman be strong and fearless enough to bring such a charge? Although it is an ancient ritual, it has its parallels in later and ongoing history into our own day.

    Dr. Gafney tells us in her text notes that while some translations of the psalm use gender neutral language, she has intentionally kept the masculine singular because of the binary framework of the text. As always she uses expansive titles for God, expressed in all capital letters, and the occasional feminine pronoun.

  And then there’s Paul…it is important to reiterate, that Paul wrote letters to specific churches for specific reasons that may or may not apply in our own times even though they have been, by some, raised high above the Gospel writers. Dr. Gafney writes, “Neither Greek nor Hebrew has distinct words for wives or husbands,” rather both simply use “’her man’ and ‘his woman’ in ‘conjugal relationships.’” Therefore, it isn’t clear if Paul is speaking about all men or all people.

    In the passage from Luke, no actual sin is named but in the world of the ancients all the way to today, it suggests that as a female her sin is more likely considered to be sexual in nature. Jesus, especially in Luke, had close relationships with women and men in his circle. And speaks quite directly to his host, the Pharisee, as to why “this woman” has offered him more hospitality than the host. The ending of this reading is our beginning, that is, through Jesus, she was and we are each saved by our faith.

    The combination of all these texts offer us an opportunity to examine how we read them, what our first reactions are, how do these expose our own biases to us, and how the cultural, sexual, stereotypical, and other influences of our lives change our perceptions of what lessons we are to imitate or ignore. Reading other translations and paraphrases (not direct translations but a reframing in modern language such as The Message or The Living Bible, etc.) can show us similarities and differences. For a quick look, use BibleGateway.com. Something else to read is the Gospel of Luke in this week’s Revised Common Lectionary: Luke 6:17-26, a differing version of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount [Matthew 5:1-12] and on a different occasion and known as Blessings and Woes.

    Let us breathe deeply, contemplate our earthly wants, worries, triggers, and tranquilities, as we move forward one step at a time strengthening and saving faith.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ SHELTERING ONE, our God, remind us to always take our refuge in and gather around you, especially in the midst of fear for ourselves and others in life’s troubling times. Judge us all by our righteousness and integrity, as we give thanks and praise to our HOLY GOD, the Most High.

                                                Holy and ALL-SEEING GOD

                                                Save us by our strong faith and deep love 

~ SHELTERING ONE, our God, rise up and wake the justice you have appointed in the wisdom of your Creation. Endow all the leaders of this World, this Country, and this State, with irreproachable ethics, right moral character, and exemplary governance on behalf of all your people, everywhere. We pray especially for: the President, the Vice-President, our Members of Congress, our Governor, our County Executive, our City Council, and our Mayor.

                                                Holy and ALL-SEEING GOD

                                                Save us by our strong faith and deep love 

~ SHELTERING ONE, our God, embrace the hearts of all who are seriously ill, unhoused, and/or life-weary, and grant energy to those who give them care. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… 

                                                Holy and ALL-SEEING GOD

                                                Save us by our strong faith and deep love 

~ SHELTERING ONE, our God, surround those who mourn with Your perfect peace, as the glory and joy of eternity, now enfold those we have sent ahead to You. We pray especially for: 

                                                Holy and ALL-SEEING GOD

                                                Save us by our strong faith and deep love 

~ SHELTERING ONE, our God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…

                                                Holy and ALL-SEEING GOD

                                                Save us by our strong faith and deep love 

~ SHELTERING ONE, our God, grant all who lead us in Your Church with wise and gracious spirits, as they guide each of us and themselves, on the path toward the radiance of everlasting life in You. We pray especially for: Sean, our Presiding Bishop; Kevin our Bishop; Patrick, our Rector; and Lloyd, our Rector Emeritus.

                                                Holy and ALL-SEEING GOD

                                                Save us by our strong faith and deep love 

The Celebrant adds: Infinite Boundless God, push us firmly beyond our worldly biases of ethnicity, gender, culture, and beyond, to embrace the breadth and depth, the highs and lows of all life, especially human, in your design and domain. Guide our hearts and souls to know the healing grace of Jesus, our Christ; to repent often, and to love and be loved deeply in the peace of his forgiveness. We ask in the name Jesus, Your Human and Divine Son; and of the Holy Spirit, Your Sacred Breath within us; who together with You as our One God, fill us, guide us, and love us, forever and ever. Amen.

 

*Readings for our Parish in this Year C are from The Rev. Dr. Wilda [Wil] Gafney, Womanist biblical scholar, and the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church Yr C, and others in her series, and translator of its biblical selections. I definitely commend her book for the complete readings, to Clergy and Laity, for her Text Notes, and “Preaching Prompts” whether or not you will use them in your Liturgies/Services/Preaching. There is much to learn from her work to inform every facet of our lives in Christ.  To learn more about her and her work, see her website: https://www.wilgafney.com/

 

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: The Melody of Faith ~ 6th Sunday after the Epiphany RCL ‘25 Year C

For Sunday, February 16, 2025; Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Psalm 1, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, 

Luke 6:17-26

   Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord…Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord…I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to…the fruit of their doings. [Jeremiah 17:5, 7, 1]

   Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked…their delight is in the law of the Lord… [Psalm 1:1a, 2a]

   Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead…But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. [1 Corinthians 15:12, 20] 

   And all in the crowd were trying to touch [Jesus], for power came out from him and healed all of them…And he looked up at his disciples and said: Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God…But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation… [Luke 6:19-20, 24]

      This Sunday we are treated to readings we don’t often get to in the season after the Epiphany. Owing to the date of Easter derived from the Lunar calendar with some very complex calculations by which the Western Church and the Eastern Church come out differently. Some years have fewer Sundays in the Season of Epiphany. So, on this our Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, we are confronted by the prophetic and instructive blessings and woes. The Good News/Bad News Sunday.
      Jeremiah starts us off with similar wording to Psalm 1 which follows in the appointed lectionary. Jeremiah would have known this Psalm and his perspective is to trust in God. He tells his audience, and us, that those who trust in mere mortals and whose hearts turn away…shall be like a shrub in the desert…in the parched places…uninhabited salt land. Those who trust in the Lord are blessed, and like a tree planted by water have strong roots and nothing to fear, even when heat comes. Jeremiah further says that the Lord will test the minds and hearts and give each what is deserved, according to their ways.
      The Psalmist has a slightly different rendering with essentially the same outcome. God knows what we’re up to and we will prosper if we live according the God’s law, however, the way of the wicked is doomed.
       Paul, writing to the Corinthians, was engaging them to move beyond believing only what could be seen. The Pharisees, one of which Paul is reputed to have been, is one sect of Judaism that believes in an afterlife. Some in Corinth were questioning resurrection in general. Paul argued that if there was no resurrection from the dead then Christ would not be raised and they would all retain their sins. A conundrum for the sophisticated Corinthians to ponder as they certainly didn’t want to be merely like the rest of human-kind. Paul continued his work with them through the end of this letter and beyond into his second to them.
       Luke’s version of the Beatitudes is similar yet distinctly different than the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew [Mt 5:1-12]. As Jesus arrived at a level place there was a great crowd who had come to hear him and be healed. He then spoke to his disciples and delivered a set of 4 blessings and a set of 4 woes, two states of being, or, of life, from which to choose. This is not sweetness and light, even for the blessed. Sacrifice and self-denial, persecution, and deprivation doesn’t sound much like a blessing. But then, those who are living high off the fat now will face complete reversal of fortune when, as the Psalmist says, the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes. Faith is tested every day in various ways in this human existence. Choice of lifestyle is not available to everyone when there are significant hardships. Yet for those who are able to have a high, even luxurious living standard, it is difficult to choose Christ when considerable distraction and temptation abound in the arenas of instant gratification.
      Hope in Christ is what Paul is giving us. Jeremiah, the Psalmist, and Jesus, all give us the options in how to live life. Nothing is easy but there is always hope. God knows whatever we choose and Jesus IS Risen which is the VERY Good News and always within us. A quote I once read, from the late Brazilian theologian Dr. Rubem Alves, brings it home for me: Hope is hearing the melody of the future – faith is dancing to it today.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ All-Knowing God, guide us through our darkest and weakest moments with the assurance of Your blessings, helping us to remain rooted deeply in faith with delight in Your law.
 
                                                     O Lord, our Strength 
            RESPONSE:              We put our trust in You
 
~ All-Knowing God, turn all leaders of government, across Your Creation, away from the false counsel of cursed mortals with wicked intent, toward choosing to prosper all of Your beloved, and standing upright when judgment comes. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Strength
                                                       We put our trust in You
 
~ All-Knowing God, embrace the hearts of all who are seriously ill, addicted, or life-weary, and give energy to those who give them care. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Strength
                                                       We put our trust in You
 
~ All-Knowing God, surround those who mourn with Your perfect peace, as the glory and joy of eternity now enfold those we have sent ahead to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Strength
                                                       We put our trust in You
 
~ All-Knowing God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Strength
                                                       We put our trust in You
             
~ All-Knowing God, grant all who lead us in Your Church with wise and gracious spirits, as they guide each of us and themselves, toward the radiance of everlasting life in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Strength
                                                       We put our trust in You
             
The Celebrant adds: God of Hope and Healing, as you test our minds and search our hearts, keep us mindful of the choices we make in all that we do. Endow us with the courage to accept and trust Your blessings where we are, and to be spared the woes of those whose hearts turn away. We ask through Jesus, our Risen Christ; and the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of our Souls; who together with You are One God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

 

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: Wisdom Calling ~ 5th Sunday after The Epiphany WLWC* Yr C

For Sunday, February 2, 2025; Readings: Proverbs: 81-4, 10-17; Psalm 111; 1 James 3:13-18, Luke 7:18-35

 Does not Wisdom call, and Understanding put forth her voice...I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence…To you, the woman-born I call, and my cry is to all earth’s children…The fear of the FOUNT OF WISDOM is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the way of evil. [Proverbs 8:1, 4, 12, 13]

  Praise the LIVING GOD! I will give thanks to the ONE GOD with my whole heart…the WOMB OF LIFE is gracious and abounds in mother-love…The works of her hands are truth and justice…Awe of the AGELESS GOD is the beginning of wisdom… [Psalm 111:1, 4b, 7a, 10]

 Who is wise and understanding among you…through a way of life that is good, through works that are done with gentleness born of wisdom…do not boast and bear false witness against the truth…For where these is jealousy and selfishness, there will also be turmoil… The wisdom from above is…pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere.[1 James 3:13, 14, 16, 17]

  Now, the disciples of John brought news…[about Jesus raising the widow’s son] to John. And John called two in particular…He sent them…to ask, “Are you the One Who is Coming…Jesus answered them,, “Go and take this news to John…” Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John…more than a prophet…the one about whom it is written “Look I am sending my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way before you”…Now all the people who heard this…professed the righteousness of God, being baptized with the baptism of John…But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the legal scholars rejected God’s counsel for themselves…the people of this generation…are like children in the marketplace…calling to one another…Yet Wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” [Luke 7:18-20, 22a, 24a, 2729-30, 32a, 35]

    The first Lesson for this week from Proverbs 8 begins with Does not Wisdom call, and Understanding put forth her voice? “Call” is an interesting word in religious circles as well as in secular. We often hear and/or use the word call as in, for example, “I/She/He/They are called to ordained ministry, working with homeless shelters, political activism, childcare, or medical training, etc. And it continues in verse 4 with To you, the woman-born, I call… and beyond, to take my instruction…and knowledge. The psalm, at the very least by inference, also issues calls throughout and particularly in verse 1 to Praise the Living God… and to give thanks…and at verse 10 telling us that as Awe of the Ageless God is the beginning of wisdom…we are called to develop the Awe within ourselves.

    In the Letter/Epistle from James, we are asked at the beginning about who is wise and understanding among us and given an instruction of how to live a wise and understanding life by Showing a way of life that is good, through works that are done with gentleness born of wisdom. It follows with further instruction on the don’ts and the why’s. I found myself, and it continues with each successive reading of this Letter, very attracted to the balance of the gentle yet firm and prescriptive cadence of the prose in verses 17-18 with the starkness of the warnings in verses 14-16.

    And then there’s this passage in Luke! What I love most about Dr. Gafney’s Lectionary is her use of the non-preaching readings, that is, readings that are not in the Revised Common Lectionary in any of the 3 year cycles nor in the Daily Office. We are then moving from the “condensed” version of the Sunday/Daily offerings of Scripture to a broader experience of learning and “digesting.” I have done “The Bible in 90 Days” ~ more or less ~ I’ve read through one book at a time, now and then in formal and personal or group study. Yet the memory of the vastness of all that is available, even when read , easily escapes my consciousness (more easily as I get older!).

    This piece of Luke was one of those great moments of OH! THIS! And in my research I discovered that Luke’s source for this account is from Matthew 11:2-19, perfectly aligned with the label synoptic, that is, synonymous. Repeated in Luke for us to hear and know, in this case, far more about the relationship of Jesus and his cousin John, the messenger from God who prepared the Way. Yet again, neither are found in the RCL or Daily Office. From this vantage point for me, Dr. Gafney is calling us all to read and hear with fresh eyes and ears with open hearts and minds and to have more than snippets of the familiar texts.

    There’s very little variance in the translations of Dr. Gafney with the NRSV and other translations. Her use of expanded titles for God, and her use of the feminine aspect of God is not changing any of the narratives in any way. Wisdom has always been considered feminine from its Hebrew root and attained through the counsel of the Holy Spirit. In Hebrew the ruach means spirit, wind, or breath, it is all of the life force and fullness of God’s Creation on all levels seen and unseen.

    The introduction of these texts highlights that which opens a larger entry into the breadth and depth of our faith story with all of its magnitude and immensity. Sadly, this dimension of the feminine is rarely taught or applied by many Biblical preachers and teachers, the learned and the less so. Tragically, it remains for some as nearly heretical and certainly offensive, as in an affront to the vastness of God’s Plan. Many see it as violating the Canon of Scripture cemented, supposedly forever, in the 4^th century by, well, men. See Genesis 1:127 across the vastness of Jewish and Christian translations and paraphrases. See any and all of Dr. Gafney’s lections across many translations.

    As we are told, in Scripture, John was indeed called to his role. A dictionary defines “calling” in this context as, 1: a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence; and 2: the vocation or profession in which one customarily engages. We also use the word commission when one has been more formally launched into their chosen path. And commissioned is defined as, 1: an instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group of people; and 2: a group of people officially charged with a particular function. Ordained…

    One can decline a call and quit a job, but that divine spark, that still small voice within that nags and niggles will continue to make itself known whether or not you accept and act on it or try to hide it away. When a sense of a divine call is allowed to bubble up, one may then be commissioned to engage with it throughout the entirety of one’s life, in many and various and surprising, and sometimes scary ways. Of course, we all wrestle and wonder if this is real or imagined. The test is in discovering in what ways are its deeper purpose meant to be expressed as well as how it offers goodness and rightness; and discussion with a trusted adviser. Dr. Gafney’s work challenges us to active spiritual listening for what calls us in and what repels us by these and other readings; and, for us each examine the why in either case. Then, we are to work on what comes next.

   When you have those sudden or continuing and compelling moments of oughts and shoulds and mights, and we all do even if we wave them off…Consider, is the ID on your spiritual listening device saying Wisdom Calling? Will we answer?

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ LIVING GOD, holy is your name and we give you praise and thanks with our whole heart for your forever covenant with us. As our WOMB OF LIFE, you are gracious and abound in mother-love in the redemption you sent to your people. The works of your hands are truth and justice, and our awe of you is the beginning of our wisdom.

                   RESPONSE:   O FOUNT OF WISDOM

                                                Open us to hear your call

~ LIVING GOD, guide all who lead the nations of this world, this country, and this community, to lead good lives and work on behalf of all your people with gentleness born of wisdom without selfishness and turmoil. Your wisdom is pure, peaceable, and full of mercy. May we all reap the peace that you and we each sow. We pray especially for: add your own petitions          

                                                O FOUNT OF WISDOM

                                                Open us to hear your call

~ LIVING GOD, bind the wounds and heal the hearts of all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and give strength to those who give them care. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                O FOUNT OF WISDOM

                                                Open us to hear your call

~ LIVING GOD, brighten the shadows for all who are bereaved, as those who have stepped from the constrains of this life, now delight in the glory and radiance of new and unending life in Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O FOUNT OF WISDOM

                                                Open us to hear your call

~ LIVING GOD, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions

                                                O FOUNT OF WISDOM

                                                Open us to hear your call

~ LIVING GOD, renew and empower those who welcome us to the sacred feast at Your table and proclaim the Good News of Christ’s Gospel. Together may we know, experience, and share Your blessings and abiding love. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O FOUNT OF WISDOM

                                                Open us to hear your call

The Celebrant adds: Jesus, Son of Woman, as God’s Word in human flesh, You are the One who has Come and is Coming. You are the gift of Wisdom personified. Through your words and actions in living, dying, and resurrecting, we are called to take the news of you by all the means our loving words and actions can reach others. Grant us strength and courage to follow in your steps as the disciples we claim to be. We ask through the Holy Spirit, the Sacred Breath within us; and the Ageless Creator of all we see and cannot see; who together with You are One God, here, now, and forever. Amen.

 

*Readings for our Parish in this Year C are from The Rev. Dr. Wilda [Wil] Gafney, 

Womanist biblical scholar, and the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church Yr C, and others in her series, and translator of its biblical selections. I definitely commend her book for the complete readings, to Clergy and Laity, for her Text Notes, and “Preaching Prompts” whether or not you will use them in your Liturgies/Services/Preaching. There is much to learn from her work to inform every facet of our lives in Christ.  To learn more about her and her work, see her website: https://www.wilgafney.com/

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com