Note: The reading from Baruch* is also known as the Letter or Epistle
of Jeremiah. In some Bibles, the two are
separated by the book of Lamentations. [see more below]
The Babylonian Captivity of the Israelites was
orchestrated by God as punishment for their continuing sins and many rebellions
against God’s Commandments. As they were told they would be, they were in exile
for many generations. They had to learn how to survive in this new and foreign land
with unfamiliar gods about whom they are warned in the Letter. They are also
told that God’s Messenger is with them watching over their lives.
The community of
the Psalmist is also in captivity and reflects on all the transgressions that
led to this time. While God showed compassion that caused them to be
viewed with more tenderness by their captors, they still long to be restored to
their homeland. We are, as they were, accompanied by God in all of life’s circumstances.
We, too, must learn to live in the world in which we exist that occasionally,
or more frequently, requires making considerably difficult choices in order to
merely survive.
Six months ago, as
of this writing, most of us “average” Americans, and others in similar life-styles
in similar economies, would have read these passages quite differently, as
those who are from worlds and millennia apart from these captive exiles. Now we bear witness to untold thousands being rounded up, detained in, reportedly,
less than humane conditions, and deported to prisons in countries other than those
of their birth. Whatever one’s particular feelings or political stance about
those deemed undocumented or with “illegal” status, it has taken such a short
amount of time to shake our once deeply held beliefs about but now not-so-solid
democratic foundations. Even those with pristine credentialed citizenship are losing
decades-long employment to “budget slashing” and rumors of planned “loyalty
oaths” to come. And, what of those among us, legal in every way, yet out of sight
to “us” because their poverty, permanent housing issues, addictions, chronic
health, or disability needs render them invisible or worse ~ less than human ~ for
too many? What does it take to awaken us, to shake us out of complacency,
justification, or even the fear of what is to come? What are we called to do?
As with other
letters in the Pauline collection, the true writer of the Letter to the
Colossians is not clear as it may or may not have been by Paul. Colossae was a
community of Christians founded by one of Paul’s adherents and colleagues,
Epaphras, in Asia Minor, and they were not strictly following the teachings of
Jesus. In addition, these Christian communities developed by Paul and his
disciples, were also oppressed by Roman occupation and moved through captivities
of varying kinds. This Letter reminds those attracted by other philosophical
and/or a fusion of religious practices, not to be deceived and reminded them to
stay rooted in Christ rather than in things of human tradition…and
not according to the Messiah. [see syncretism, gnosticism for examples]
Paul is more concerned with the capture of one’s mind and inner being. If we
are free in our minds, not allowing ourselves to be pulled this way or that,
but comfortable and solid in our beliefs, even as we study to learn more, we
are less likely to be swayed by those of dubious intent who are attempting to
corral us into their space in a differing type of captivity.
It is important to
remember that Jesus was born and raised into the oppression of Roman rule and forced
to be exiled to Egypt as an infant with his parents [illegally?] to avoid
persecution. Equally important, as was mentioned last week, we are not to be deceived
by claims that the return of Jesus is imminent or already here. While this
passage in Luke outlines what is to come before the return of Christ, there is
no given timeline and perhaps not all that is written here is all that will
happen. Even Paul was caught up in believing that Jesus would return in Paul’s
own lifetime. Social media platforms are rife with posts about the end times
are here whenever there is reporting of a spate of vicious storms or earthquakes
or volcanic eruptions, etc. There are those who simply enjoy fear-mongering, and
there are those genuinely frightened by a literal sense of the Bible’s meaning
that they have been taught. Whatever Bible
translation, faith tradition, belief, or practice, for a Christian rooted in
Christ, Redemption is a sure and certain promise. Let’s keep our hearts
from fear and our heads up!
*The readings for this week, as last week, begin with the generally obscure Baruch,
a scribe for and companion of Jeremiah. His writing is not found in Hebrew Scripture
or Evangelical Christian Bibles (NIV, ESV, etc.) but is in the Bibles of Orthodox
and Roman Catholicism in the deuterocanonical or second canon. The
apocrypha or hidden books, are the same as those in the deuterocanonical
but they are in a separate section, generally between the Hebrew Testament and
the Christian Testament in Protestant Bibles such as the New Oxford Annotated
Bible, The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), etc., and not considered as
part of the official Canonical books
of Scripture, yet relevant. Biblical scholars may have issues with authenticity
of authorship and content yet feel that the work still contributes to greater
understanding.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES, you brought us to life in
Christ through Baptism, forgiving all our trespasses. Keep us from being held captive
by the deceit and philosophy of those who would have us stray from our Messiah.
Hear our cries of distress, and in your compassion, guide us to continue our
journey to the fullness of our faith, giving thanks to your holy name.
HOLY
SHEPHERD, our God
RESPONSE: Your
Faithful Love endures forever
~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES,
infuse the rulers and authorities of this World, this Nation, and this
Community, with the prudence and right judgment not to sweep away the innocent
with the guilty. Release them and us from governance according to the human
thinking that benefits only the few and disregards the human cost for the many.
We pray especially for: add your own petitions
HOLY
SHEPHERD, our God
Your
Faithful Love endures forever
~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES,
ease the pain and anguish of all who are suffering, and refresh the energy of
all who give care and support. We now join our hearts together to pray for
those in need…
HOLY
SHEPHERD, our God
Your Faithful Love endures forever
~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES,
calm the sorrow and tears of those who mourn, as You grant to all of our
faithful departed, the glory of everlasting life in You. We pray especially
for…add your own petitions
HOLY
SHEPHERD, our God
Your
Faithful Love endures forever
~ MAJESTY OF THE
AGES, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt
thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or
silently… add your own petitions
HOLY
SHEPHERD, our God
Your
Faithful Love endures forever
~ MAJESTY OF THE AGES,
instill further grace and tenacity in faith to all who are anointed to pastor
us in wellness and in sickness, in joy and in sorrow, in preaching and in
teaching, as they guide us to your glory and the salvation of us all. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
HOLY
SHEPHERD, our God
Your
Faithful Love endures forever
The Celebrant adds: O FAITHFUL ONE, fill us with the persistence to free our
minds from those who would feed us with continuing fear. Remind us often of your
constant Presence in our lives that strengthens us to stand up in faith and not
lose heart. Turn us from the human pathways of trespass and trial into the
fullness of Christ our Savior. We ask through Jesus, the Son of Woman;
and the Holy Spirit, the Wings of our Souls; who together with You are our One
God, 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/
