Above: The Golden Rule, by Norman Rockwell
Image in the Public Domain
The Golden Rule
SEPTEMBER 29 and 30, 2022
OCTOBER 1, 2022
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The Collect:
Benevolent, merciful God:
When we are empty, fill us.
When we are weak in faith, strengthen us.
When we are cold in love, warm us,
that we may love our neighbors and
serve them for the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
—Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 49
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The Assigned Readings:
2 Kings 18:1-8, 28-36 (Thursday)
2 Kings 19:8-20, 35-37 (Friday)
Isaiah 7:1-9 (Saturday)
Psalm 37:1-9 (All Days)
Revelation 2:8-11 (Thursday)
Revelation 2:12-29 (Friday)
Matthew 20:29-34 (Saturday)
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Put your trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and feed on its riches.
–Psalm 37:3, The Book of Common Prayer (1979)
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The readings for these three days tell of the mercy–pity, even–of God. In 2 Kings and Isaiah God delivers the Kingdom of Judah from threats. The core message of Revelation is to remain faithful during persecution, for God will win in the end. Finally, Jesus takes pity on two blind men and heals them in Matthew 20.
On the other side of mercy one finds judgment. The Kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians in 2 Kings 17 and 2 Chronicles 32. The Kingdom of Judah went on to fall to the Chaldean/Neo-Babylonian Empire in 2 Kings 25 and 2 Chronicles 36. The fall of Babylon (the Roman Empire) in Revelation was bad news for those who had profited from cooperation with the violent and economically exploitative institutions thereof (read Chapter 18).
In an ideal world all would be peace and love. We do not live in an ideal world, obviously. Certain oppressors will insist on oppressing. Some of them will even invoke God (as they understand God) to justify their own excuse. Good news for the oppressed, then, will necessarily entail bad news for the oppressors. The irony of the situation is that oppressors. The irony of the situation is that oppressors hurt themselves also, for whatever they do to others, they do to themselves. That is a cosmic law which more than one religion recognizes. Only victims are present, then, and some victims are also victimizers.
Loving our neighbors is much better, is it not?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MAY 20, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT ALCUIN OF YORK, ABBOT OF TOURS
THE FEAST OF JOHN JAMES MOMENT, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF LUCY ELIZABETH GEORGINA WHITMORE, BRITISH HYMN WRITER
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2016/05/20/the-golden-rule-2/
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