With her
expansive titles for God, especially in this excerpt from Exodus, Dr. Gafney
gives us, as always, a continuing fresh opportunity to reflect on our non-limited
God. Her womanist translation of Psalm 91 is likely a significant
challenge to very many readers yet it is an invitation to think about what
draws us in and/or what pushes us away from this poetic vision and the ever important "why".
Hope, for me, is the important takeaway in
the reading from Romans just beyond the reassurance that we are all heirs of
God and heirs with Christ. We are not reprieved from suffering but rather
we can wait with patience for our hope to be realized.
And then it is time to listen, to hear, to feel deeply, the
beauty of the exchange between two kinswomen and consider who they were in
their time and who they have become to us. The elder Elizabeth, was a
barren woman for so many years until suddenly she is with child, a very
important child, John, the Baptizer, who will prepare the way of the
Lord. In her day she was likely ostracized in her community for most of her
adult life, or at the very least considered a failure because of her seeming
infertility. The much younger Mary, generally considered to be between the ages
of 12-14, recently told by an Angel that she is bearing the Son of God, (can
you imagine?!), would perhaps bear shame in her community as well as the
uncertainty of Joseph, her betrothed, because of her condition. Would he be
able to come to terms with this mystery in such a time? Would we, in our own
time? (Of course, we already know he'll have an angelic visitation of his own
in Matthew 1:18-25, and will be a loving, protective husband.)
These women come together and speak to us, to awaken us from the
haze of frantic preparations for a celebration that is increasingly more
earth-bound than spiritual. In their greetings to each other we discover the
unexpectedness of this moment of expectation, the message of embracing the twists
and turns of life, and recognizing that God is present at all times
~ when we feel elated and when we feel shamed or anxious or
uncertain. We are not alone in the darkest of times or in the
happiest. Jesus comes as the face of God to sanctify and save us. Stop,
sit, breathe in the peace of the quiet. Even as the clock and calendar call, let
us not race ahead, but remain in the stillness for a time, in the space between
not yet and almost, savoring the expectation of Christ's birth, and finding an
unexpected freshness in the joy of anticipation for the Holy One. In days of worry, anger, fear, grief,
or any other part of life that is unsettling, let us find our inner faith made
stronger in knowing that the One Who is coming, is already here, for us each to
be in the shelter of Shaddai*** all together as His own.
*Readings for our Parish in this
Year C are from The Rev. Dr. Wilda [Wil] Gafney, Womanist biblical scholar, and
is 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, here after designated on my posts as WCL and
translator of its biblical selections. Learn more about her and her work at her
website: https://www.wilgafney.com/ [for slightly more detail, see my blog post for
December 1, 2024, Advent I WCL, see link below] The readings and prayers of
the people follow.
**
In some of Dr. Gafney’s notes for this week she explains her use of the word
slave in Exodus 20:2,4,17 in which the Hebrew root is the same as serve in v.4
and also for “worship” in other translations. Also, in v 10 the sojourner, she
says, “The text is clear that they are ‘your’ sojourner or immigrant
[neighbor]; they belong to the community.” Her choice to use “explicitly feminine
language…mirrors and inverts traditional translation” and she invites “readers
to pray the song reflecting on any perceived barriers in the use of feminine
language as universal language.” In Psalm 91, for example, Dr. Gafney says that
the divine title Shaddai***means ‘the Breasted One’; a shad is a
woman’s breast in Hebrew. In her
book for Year C, Dr. Gafney explains her process and sources of translation of
each reading she uses, which is impossible to offer in this space. Fascinating
and illuminating, not merely because of the womanist highlighting, but
for a greater appreciation of and fresh perspective in each biblical reading as
most are not, or rarely, used in Sunday preaching or Daily Lectionaries. For
slightly more information see: https://prayersofthepeople.blogspot.com/2024/11/prayers-of-people-advent-ure-begins.html
Readings
for Advent IV – December 22, 2024
Exodus
20:1-21: Now
God declared all these declarations: 2 I am the HOLY ONE your God, who brought
you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves. 3 There shall be no
other gods for you in my face. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol of any
form that is in the heavens on high, or that is on the earth below, or that is
in the waters under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them:
I the THUNDER OF SINAI your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of
parents upon children to the third and the fourth [generation] of those who
hate me. 6 And faithfully loving to the thousandth [generation] of those who
love me and keep my commandments. 7 You shall not lift up as a trifling thing
the Name of the MAJESTY OF THE AGES your God, for the JUDGE OF ALL FLESH will
not acquit anyone who lifts up as a trifling thing the Name of the FIRE OF
SINAI. 8 Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. 9 Six days shall you labor
and do all your work. 10 Now the seventh day is a sabbath to the WOMB OF
CREATION your God; you shall not do any work—you, your daughter or your son,
your female slave or your male slave, your livestock or [the sojourner] your
immigrant [neighbor] in your towns. 11 For in six days the CREATOR OF ALL made
the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them; and God rested
the on the seventh day; therefore the EVER-LIVING GOD blessed the sabbath day
and consecrated it. 12 Honor your mother and your father, so that your days may
be long in the land that the FAITHFUL ONE your God is giving you. 13 You shall
not murder. 14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 You shall not steal. 16 You
shall testify against your neighbor [as] a lying witness. 17 You shall not
covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s woman, or
female slave or male slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that is your
neighbor’s. 18 When all the women, children, and men saw the thunder and the
lightning—and the sound of the trumpet!—and the mountain smoking, the people
were afraid and they trembled, and they stood far off. 19 And the people said
to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen, yet do not let God speak to us
or we shall die.” 20 Then Moses said to the people, “Fear not for it is only to
test you that God has come, and for the sake that the fear of God would be upon
you all so that you do not sin.” 21 Then the women, children, and men stood far
off while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
Psalm
91: 1
She who settles in the shelter of the Most High, who stays in the shadow of
Shaddai [at her breast]: 2 She will say to the SHELTERING GOD, “My refuge and
my stronghold; my God, in her I trust.” 3 For she will deliver you from the
snare of the huntress and from the devastating pestilence. 4 She will cover you
with her pinions, and under her wings shall you find refuge; a shield and
buckler are her faithfulness. 5 You shall not fear the terror of night, or the
arrow that flies by day; 6 nor even the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or
the destruction that ravages at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your
side, and ten thousand at your right hand, yet near you, it shall not approach.
8 Only glance with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 For you,
the SAVING GOD is your refuge, the Most High, your habitation. 10 No evil shall
befall you, no plague come near your tent. 11 For her angels will she command
for you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 On their hands shall they carry you,
lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13 On the lion and the adder shall
you tread; you will trample the young lion and the serpent. 14 For she who is
bound to me, I will deliver her; I will exalt her, for she knows my Name. 15
When she calls me, I will answer her. I will be with her in trouble; I will
rescue her and honor her. 16 With long life shall I satisfy her, and show her
my salvation.
Romans
8:14-25: Now
as many as are led by the Spirit of God are daughters and sons of God. 15 For
you all did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall again into fear, but you
have received a spirit of adoption through which we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 It
is that same Spirit who bears witness with our spirit that we are daughters and
sons of God. 17 And if daughters and sons, then heirs, heirs of God and heirs
with Christ, if it is true that we suffer with Christ so that we may also be
glorified with Christ. 18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time
are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the
creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the daughters and sons
of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but
by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself
will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the
glory of the daughters and sons of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has
been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we
ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we
wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we
hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Luke
1:46-56: “My
soul magnifies the Holy One, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for
God has looked with favor on the lowliness of God’s own womb-slave. Surely,
from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has
done great things for me, and holy is God’s name. 50 God’s loving-kindness is
for those who fear God from generation to generation. 51 God has shown the
strength of God’s own arm; God has scattered the arrogant in the intent of
their hearts. 52 God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and
lifted up the lowly; 53 God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent
the rich away empty. 54 God has helped God’s own child, Israel, a memorial to
God’s mercy, 55 just as God said to our mothers and fathers, to [Hagar and] and
Sarah and Abraham, to their descendants forever.” 56 And Mary remained with
Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE PRAY
Leader: ~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES, OUR GOD, magnify our faith
to rejoice again in the coming of our Savior. Look with favor upon us, Mighty
One, keep Your loving kindness within us to share with others, as we know the
strength of Your own arm will lift us all. Feed our sisters and brothers who
are hungry and without shelter; and may the sojourners among us feel safe and valued
as our neighbors.
O SHELTERING GOD
RESPONSE:
Our Refuge and our Stronghold
~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES, OUR
GOD, help us to lift up all bowed low in this
World, in our Nation, and in our Community from war in its many guises, from
the poverty of heart and spirit, and anger born of fear. Fill us with the courage
and constancy to remind our earthly leaders to persevere in the cause of peace,
justice, and mercy for all of Your children of every size, color,
age, and struggle. We pray especially for: add your own
petitions
O SHELTERING GOD
Our Refuge and our Stronghold
~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES, OUR
GOD, grant peace, relief, and hope to all enduring
chronic illness, poverty, or emotional anguish, and bring comfort to all who
love them and give them care. We now join our hearts to pray aloud
for those in need… add your own petitions
O SHELTERING GOD
Our Refuge and our Stronghold
~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES, OUR
GOD, unburden the hearts of all who grieve with the
assurance of new life for all who now rest forever in Your radiant glory.
We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O SHELTERING GOD
Our Refuge and our
Stronghold
~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES, OUR
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 SHELTERING GOD
Our Refuge and our Stronghold
~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES, OUR
GOD, infuse extra energy, spiritual strength, and frequent
reminders for self-care upon those anointed to offer Your Word and Sacraments,
guiding us to discover daily Your Love and Will, in and for our lives. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
O SHELTERING GOD
Our Refuge and our Stronghold
The Celebrant adds: EVERLIVING GOD, as we make ready
to receive the One who comes, even as He is already here, restore us to Your
purpose that the fruits of our life’s labors may always be a reflection of Your
infinite blessings. We ask through Jesus, our Joyful Expectation; and the Holy
Spirit, Your Sacred Breath; who together with You, live and reign as One
God, now and forever. Amen.
