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

Prayers of the People: Deep Water ~ 5th Sunday after the Epiphany '25 RCL Yr C

For Sunday, February 9, 2025; Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8, (9-13); Psalm 138, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11

   One of the seraphs…holding a live coal…touched my mouth with it and said, “...your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send…” And I said, “Here I am, send me!” [Isaiah 6:6-8]

   All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, when they have heard the words of your mouth. They will sing of the ways of the Lord…The Lord will make good his purpose for me…O Lord, your love endures for ever…  [Psalm 138: 5, 6a, 9a]

   I would remind you…of the good news that I proclaimed to you…by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. [1 Corinthians 15:1a, 10a]

   …[Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out in the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” …they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break…when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”…Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”…they left everything and followed him. [Luke 5:4b, 6b, 8, 10b, 11b]

         In religious circles ~ as well as secular ~ we often hear and/or use the word call as, for example, “I/She/He/They are called to ordained ministry, working with homeless shelters, political activism, or medical training, etc. In the lessons and the Gospel, and to some extent in the Psalm appointed for this week we are hearing the language that expresses a calling. The 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 her or his chosen path. And that 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.  

       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. 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 ways. One test is to explore the rightness and the goodness of its intended purpose and also to discuss with a trusted advisor. 

       Isaiah engages us immediately with his vision that places him in the presence of the Divine. In the Lord’s presence, Isaiah declares that he is unworthy as a man of unclean lips. The description that Isaiah then gives when the seraph touches his mouth with a burning coal makes me want to put ice on my lips! Seraph is the highest order of angels and that informs us that this encounter is clearly significant. The angel tells him that now his guilt has been sent away and his sin is blotted out. God speaks asking “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah answers, “Here I am, send me.” He then clearly accepts the commission of the Lord who tells him all that he must do. When Isaiah asks, How long, O Lord?, the answer is stark. It is a very long time indeed.

       For the Psalmist, the call is accepted within his heart and all the kings of the earth will be commissioned when they hear God’s words, and “sing of the ways of the Lord.” Presumably, this will be enough for the kings to reign accordingly. Hmmm…wonder how many “kings” haven’t heard God’s words.

        Paul’s calling was abrupt and startling as we read it in Acts 9 and it is Ananias who is then called to commission him on behalf of Jesus. In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminds us of his own feelings of unworthiness when he tells us that Jesus also appeared to him as he had to many others. Paul, feeling especially unfit as a persecutor in his former life, now speaks of his sense and earnestness of mission in his words, But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain…I worked harder…though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

        And then we come to our favorite fishermen. Jesus calls them to go to the deeper water with their nets. You can almost hear the sigh of Simon, who, weary after a full night of fishing with no yield, says, “…if you say so, I will…” Simon has perhaps felt the call and although he is still uncertain, he follows an instinct and does as Jesus says. In a parallel to Isaiah and Paul, Simon stunned by the overly abundant haul of fish, and realizing the reason, spontaneously tells Jesus to go away from him because he is a sinful man. The initial commissioning for Simon who becomes Peter, and for all those with him comes with the words of Jesus, Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people. And they all accepted by leaving everything to follow him and embark on an unexpected new life. They are given the Great Commission by Jesus after the Resurrection [Matthew 28:19-20] which fills the rest of their lives.

       Isaiah, the Psalmist, Paul, Peter and those who became disciples/Apostles, were in it to win it for God, for Jesus, for the abundant catch of people, for whatever came to them and at them for the length of their lives. They acknowledged, accepted, and obeyed the call. We, too, are what we are by God’s creation. Now all we have to do is acknowledge that we are each called by God to discern and accept the commission through the words of the Gospel, then work it every day so that God’s grace within us is never in vain. The Good News in Christ is that we are in this together, setting sail in smooth seas and rough, in the shallows and in the deep, with the breath of God always filling our sails.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Lord of Glory, cajole us to delve into the depths of our faith, that we may be captured in the net of Christ, and the bounty of Your grace within us may never be in vain.

                                              O God of Grace         

RESPONSE:       Your Love endures forever 

~ O Lord of Glory, open the ears of all who wield the power of government across this planet, in our country, and within our community, that they may hear Your Word and give You praise by moving according to Your ways. Guide them to make good Your purpose for the emancipation of all Your people from injustice, intolerance, and incessant injury. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                O God of Grace

                                                Your Love endures forever  

~ O Lord of Glory, 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 God of Grace

                                                Your Love endures forever  

~ O Lord of Glory, 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 God of Grace

                                                Your Love endures forever  

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

                                                O God of Grace

                                                Your Love endures forever         

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

                                                O God of Grace

                                                Your Love endures forever         

The Celebrant adds: Holy Lord of Hosts, so immerse us in the confidence of Your love that we feel our guilt depart and we stand in Your strength with the courage to say, “Send me.” Diminish our fear of the deep as we set our sails for Christ and bring others along to our glorious destination. We ask through Jesus, Fisher of Souls; and the Holy Spirit, our Navigator; who together with You are One God in Glory, now and forever more.  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: These Eyes of Mine ~ The Presentation of Jesus '25 RCL Yr C

For Sunday, February 2, 2025, Readings: Malachi 3:1-4, Ps 27:7-10, Hebrews 2:14-18, Lk 2:22-40

Thus says…the Lord of Hosts…I am sending my messenger…For he is like a refiner’s fire…and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi…until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. [Malachi 3:1a, 2b, 3]

     Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. “Who is this King of Glory?” “The Lord, strong and mighty…The Lord of hosts…is the King of glory.” [Psalm 24:7-8a, 10]

    Since God’s children share flesh and blood Jesus himself shared the same things…he had to become like his brothers and sisters…that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God…Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. [Hebrews 2:14a, 17a, 18]

     …when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him into his arms and praised God, saying…for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples…a light for revelation…and for glory…also a prophet Anna…she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem…The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. [Luke 2:22, 28, 30-32, 36a, 38]

      40 Days Later...  February 2, 40 days after Christmas, is packed with theological and liturgical significance. A special Feast day in the Church calendar, it is often overlooked when, as in most years, it falls on a weekday. The official name is: The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple. It is also recognized as The Purification of Mary because the Law of Moses required that she ~ like the Infant Jesus ~ participate in a rite of purification 40 days after childbirth. Its importance underscores that Mary and Joseph raised Jesus in faithful observance of his ancestral religion, a point of significance in his ministry to come. It also serves to reference the requirements of women and girls in childbirth and menstruation set out in brief in Leviticus 12:1-8. The Rite could be extended for the woman, to as long as 66 days, especially after giving birth to a girl-child, highlighting the ancient and often continuing implication that because of the blood, women and girls were/are more unclean and more sin-filled than their male counterparts.
   Some Christian calendars mark this as the official end of the Christmas season ~ because beyond the “12 Days of Christmas” between Christmas Day and the Epiphany ~ this day concludes the 40 Days of the Incarnation. In some practices, the day is also Candlemas, a traditional time to bless candles for liturgical use. And of course, the period of time of “40” in itself is frequently used throughout the Hebrew and Christian Testaments of The Bible and Christian practice to highlight auspicious activities such as the Israelites wandering 40 years before reaching the Promised Land, and the 40 days of Jesus in the wilderness to prepare for his active ministry. In some Christian denominations we employ 40 days of repentance and fasting in the period of Lent before the Resurrection [though importantly, those 40 days exclude Sundays…stayed tuned for more on that when Lent begins].
   The focus of today’s readings for us is the Infant's Presentation in the Temple in Jerusalem ~ a fulfillment of prophecy, a revelation. The prophet Simeon, whose name means “God has heard,” is an aged, righteous, and devout man waiting for the promised sight of the Messiah before he will know death. The Holy Spirit has guided him to this moment and as he takes this Child in his arms, his joy is palpable. In a modern translation his prayer, said in the Daily Office in the Book of Common Prayer [www.BCPonline.org], says:
 

Lord, you now have set your servant free

    to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,

    whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations,

    and the glory of your people Israel.

 
    Another aged prophet, Anna, is present. She lived in the Temple full time worshipping, fasting, and praying. Her name means “full of grace,” and she breaks out in praise of God and tells everyone about this special Baby. We, too, can easily get caught up in this moment ~ remember the excitement of special births, baptisms or christenings in your family?
   Then in the midst of the all the elation, Simeon gives Mary a hint of things to come when he says, “This Child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel…a sign that will be opposed…a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Given all that Mary and Joseph have experienced so far ~ Angel announcements, the difficult journey to Bethlehem, the birth in less than ideal circumstances, shepherds, heavenly choruses, Wise Men, and prophetic dreams…one can barely imagine what the young new mother, Mary, is thinking. Perhaps Cornish poet Charles Causley’s words gives voice to Mary’s thoughts and to every parent’s hopeful yet anxious wish:
 

Vivid upon her tongue

Unspoken prayers

That she may not outlive

The life she bears.

 
         We know what is coming in the life of Jesus. May our prayers be spoken through our thoughts, words, and actions, bringing consolation, courage for the tests we shall encounter, and the light of salvation to enlighten the world around us in service to our God in Christ. May these of eyes of our hearts, our minds, and our souls, stay present to, with, and in the love of Christ, for God, for others, and for ourselves as we have been so commanded.
 
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader: ~ Jesus, the Light to Enlighten the Nations, we present ourselves to You as pilgrims on the Way seeking favor as Your servant messengers. Fill our hearts, minds, and souls with the joy of Simeon, for the constant presence of Your wisdom and strength. Guide our feet, our hands, and our mouths, to live Christ’s Mission and Ministry, in caring for all God’s people, acting and speaking with words of peace to all we meet.
 
                                                         O Lord, Strong and Mighty
RESPONSE:                             Refine and purify our faith
 
~ Jesus, the Light to Enlighten the Nations, grant us continuing perseverance through our faith in you, to inspire the rising of those who govern to establish God’s promised peace, and to faithfully rule with mercy, justice, and sustenance, as a voice for the vulnerable, and all the people of Your Creation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord of Hosts
                                                       Refine and purify our faith                                                    
 
~ Jesus, the Light to Enlighten the Nations, we ask Your healing and hope for all who are tested through illness, fear, or desperation, and stamina for those who tend to their needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord of Hosts
                                                       Refine and purify our faith
          
~ Jesus, the Light to Enlighten the Nations, grant peace in our deserts of sorrow, as the ones whose loss we mourn, enter the everlasting doors of Heaven, welcomed by our wise and Loving Lord. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord of Hosts
                                                       Refine and purify our faith
 
~ Jesus, the Light to Enlighten the Nations, 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 of Hosts
                                                       Refine and purify our faith
                     
~ Jesus, the Light to Enlighten the Nations, enlighten and excite Your anointed prophets and disciples of our own day, who pray with and for us, baptize and confirm us, and instruct, encourage, and travel with us through our earthly sojourn. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
  
                                                       O Lord of Hosts
                                                       Refine and purify our faith                                                                                              
The Celebrant adds: O Lord, King of Glory, we, the humble stewards of Your message of salvation, rejoice with Simeon and Anna, Mary and Joseph, and prepare ourselves for the many risings and fallings yet to come in our own lives. Faithfully, freed from the fear of earthly death, we re-dedicate ourselves to You on this day and ask Your blessings for strength and integrity through Jesus, our Christ and our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, our Divine Guide; who live and reign with You as one God, now and for eternity. 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