Archive for the ‘Matthew 24’ Tag
Above: Icon of the Last Judgment
Image in the Public Domain
Secret Disciples of Jesus
NOVEMBER 19, 2023
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According to the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (ILCW) Lectionary (1973), as contained in the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) and Lutheran Worship (1982)
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Jeremiah 26:1-6 (LBW, LW) or Jeremiah 25:30-32 (LW)
Psalm 105:1-7
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 (LBW, LW) or 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10 (LW)
Matthew 24:1-14 (LBW, LW) or Mathew 25:31-46 (LW)
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Almighty and ever-living God,
before the earth was formed and even after it ceases to be,
you are God.
Break into our short span of life
and let us see the signs of your final will and purpose;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
—Lutheran Book of Worship (1978), 30
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Almighty and ever-living God,
since you have given exceedingly great and precious promises
to those who believe,
grant us so perfectly and without all doubt
to believe in your Son Jesus Christ
that our faith in your sight may never be reproved;
through our Savior, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Lutheran Worship (1982), 92
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Divine judgment and mercy come mixed in the assigned readings. Contexts vary. They include the Day of the LORD, the Exodus, the latter years of the Kingdom of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., and the Second Coming of Jesus. God is faithful and universal, we read. And many people who have a relationship with God may be unaware of that relationship. The flip side is that many people who think they have a relationship with God do not.
In the parable from Matthew 25, those astonished righteous learned that, by helping the vulnerable with whom Jesus identified, they had a relationship with Jesus. Those astonished righteous learned that they had performed good works for Jesus and had been faithful to him.
A parable, by definition, contains layers of meanings. Let us not ignore this layer of meaning, O reader. The parable in Matthew 25:31-46 speaks of service. The parable ought not to lead to Pietism–downplaying doctrine and falling into works-based righteousness. No, the parable should tell us something about divine judgment and mercy; we mere mortals do not understand them. Divine judgment and mercy exist in balance; we cannot grasp what that balance is.
Reread Matthew 25:31-46, O reader. Notice the astonishment of those who thought they were righteous and the astonishment of those who learned they were righteous. Then look around and ponder. The parable counsels against spiritual complacency. Love is active. Jesus has many disciples, a host of whom do not know they are his disciples, based on the parable’s standard. Celebrate grace and Christian service, O reader. Live grace-fully.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 24, 2022 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE, MARTYR
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Link to the corresponding post at BLOGA THEOLOGICA
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Above: Madonna and Child, by Filippo Lippi
Image in the Public Domain
Like a Child in Its Mother’s Arms
NOVEMBER 12, 2023
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According to the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (ILCW) Lectionary (1973), as contained in the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) and Lutheran Worship (1982)
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Malachi 2:1-2, 4-10 (LBW, LW) or Job 14:1-6 (LW)
Psalm 131 (LBW) or Psalm 90:1-12 (LW)
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (LW) or 1 Thessalonians 2:8-13 (LBW, LW)
Matthew 23:1-12 (LBW, LW) or Mathew 24:15-28 (LW)
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Lord God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds
by your Holy Spirit that,
always keeping in mind the end of all things and the day of judgment,
we may be stirred up to holiness here
and may live with you forever in the world to come,
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Lutheran Book of Worship (1978), 29
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O Lord, absolve your people from their offenses
that from the bonds of sins,
which by reason of our weakness we have brought upon us,
we may be delivered by your bountiful goodness;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
—Lutheran Worship (1982), 91
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Malachi 2:3 is not an assigned verse. I suppose that hearing it read aloud in church would raise some awkward issues and prompt gasps of shock. Set in the context of priests offering sacrifices wrongly after the end of the Babylonian Exile, Malachi 2:3 reads:
I will put your seed under a ban, and I will strew dung upon your faces, the dung of your festal sacrifices, and you shall be carried out to its [heap].
—TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures
God seems to take proper worship seriously in Malachi 2.
For all the John 3:16 signs at sporting events, I cannot recall one Malachi 2:3 sign. Perhaps a wiseacre should correct that oversight.
Eschatological overtones in the New Testament combine with musings about the human condition and about trust in God in the Hebrew Bible. Psalm 131 speaks of individual and collective trust in God, described in maternal terms. Matters individual and collective are inseparable, as John Donne (1572-1631) wrote:
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
Therefore, in faith community, encouraging one another is part of
a life worthy of God.
–1 Thessalonians 2:12, The New Jerusalem Bible (1985)
Lives worthy of God, by grace, build up people. Lives worthy of God seek and find the common good. Lives worthy of God play out both individually and collectively. Lives worthy of God remain deeply flawed–sinful. That is the human condition. Yet these lives do not wallow in that sin. No, these lives
…keep tranquil and quiet
like a child in its mother’s arms,
as content as a child that has been weaned.
–Psalm 131:2, The Jerusalem Bible (1966).
Consider that image, O reader. Live accordingly.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 24, 2022 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE, MARTYR
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Link to the corresponding post at BLOGA THEOLOGICA
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Above: The Parable of the Talents
Image in the Public Domain
Rejecting Grace
NOT OBSERVED IN 2023
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According to the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (ILCW) Lectionary (1973), as contained in the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) and Lutheran Worship (1982)
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Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9
Psalm 90:12-17 (LBW) or Psalm 90:13-17 (LW)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30 (LBW, LW) or Mathew 24:3-14 (LW)
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Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people
to seek more eagerly the help you offer,
that, at the last, they may enjoy the fruit of salvation;
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
—Lutheran Book of Worship (1978), 29
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O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds
by your Holy Spirit that, being ever mindful
of the end of all things and your just judgment,
we may be stirred up to holiness of living here
and dwell with you forever hereafter;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
—Lutheran Worship (1982), 90
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Rejecting grace is a frequent behavior, sadly. Hosea 11:1-9 and Matthew 25:14-20 speak of it.
The difference between the blessed and the cursed is one thing and one thing only: the blessed accept their acceptance and the cursed reject it; but the acceptance is already in place for both groups before either does anything about it…. The difference between heaven and hell, accordingly, is simply that those in heaven accept endless forgiveness, while those in hell reject it. Indeed, the precise hell of hell is its endless refusal to open the door to the reconciled and reconciling party that stands forever on its porch and knocks, equally endlessly, for permission to begin the Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 3:20).
–Robert Farrar Capon, Kingdom, Grace, Judgment: Paradox, Outrage, and Vindication in the Parables of Jesus (2002), 356-357
Or, as C. S. Lewis wrote, the doors to Hell are locked from the inside.
As some of the other assigned readings indicate, the lectionary has turned toward Advent. Certain Confessional Lutheran denominations have labeled the last four Sundays before Christmas the End Times Season. In England, in 1990, the Joint Liturgical Group prepared a four-year lectionary that starts nine Sundays before Christmas.
I cannot argue with the logic of both systems. The Joint Lecitonary Group’s lectionary violates centuries of Western Christian tradition, but so be it. I know of an Episcopal congregation that celebrates eight Sundays of Advent.
Psalm 90 contextualizes human rebellion, divine judgment, and divine grace within the contrast between divine permanence and human impermanence. I reject the idea that we must respond favorably to God before we die, or else. I reject any limitation of grace. However, I affirm that responding favorably to God consistently and as soon as possible is the best possible strategy, one which gladdens God’s heart.
Receiving grace requires extending it to others. This principle applies to groups and individuals alike. As St. Paul the Apostle wrote to the church at Thessalonica:
So give encouragement to each other, and keep strengthening one another, as you do already.
–1 Thessalonians 5:11, The New Jerusalem Bible (1985)
God seeks everyone. Divine love pursues and accompanies all of us. Will we–collectively and individually–accept it or reject it?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 23, 2022 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINTS MARTIN DE PORRES AND JUAN MACIAS, HUMANITARIANS AND DOMINICAN LAY BROTHERS; SAINT ROSE OF LIMA, HUMANITARIAN AND DOMINICAN SISTER; AND SAINT TURIBIUS OF MOGREVEJO, ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF LIMA
THE FEAST OF SAINT FRANCISZEK DACHTERA, POLISH ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND MARTYR, 1944
THE FEAST OF THEODORE O. WEDEL, EPISCOPAL PRIEST AND BIBLICAL SCHOLAR; AND HIS WIFE, CYNTHIA CLARK WEDEL, U.S. PSYCHOLOGIST AND EPISCOPAL ECUMENIST
THE FEAST OF THOMAS AUGUSTINE JUDGE, U.S. ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST; FOUNDER OF THE MISSIONARY SERVANTS OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY, THE MISSIONARY SERVANTS OF THE MOST BLESSED TRINITY, AND THE MISSIONARY CENACLE APOSTOLATE
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Link to the corresponding post at BLOGA THEOLOGICA
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Above: The Fall of the Rebel Angels, by Hieronymus Bosch
Image in the Public Domain
The Apocalyptic Discourse, Part V
AUGUST 13, 2023
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The Collect:
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Genesis 6:1-8 or Zechariah 9:1-8 (9-10) 11-17
Psalm 37:(1-2) 12-38 (39-40)
Matthew 24:(36-44) 45-51 or Luke 12:(35-40) 41-48
1 Corinthians 11:2-22 (23-26) 27-34
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Destruction (and the threat thereof) by God for rampant collective sin is prominent in Genesis 6 and Zechariah 9. Individual sin and divine displeasure over it are prominent in the Gospel readings. God is full of surprises, we read, and we have an obligation to remain on task spiritually. God’s timing is not ours, so, if we are on a positive spiritual track, we should be patient.
As for 1 Corinthians 11, the best approach to the material begins with understanding the difference between a timeless principle and a culturally specific example thereof. For example, do not go to church wearing a hairstyle such as that associated with promiscuous women or pagan priestesses, unless one covers one’s hair, is culturally specific example of a timeless principle regarding decorum in worship. Furthermore, one should not become intoxicated at the communion meal at the house church. That is also about decorum in worship, a matter of respect for God and regard for one’s fellow worshipers.
If one respects God, one seeks to obey divine commandments. The fulfillment of them is love one’s neighbors (Romans 13). One might also think of love (agape) in 1 Corinthians 13. Saying “love your neighbors” is easy, of course, but acting on that advice can be challenging. For example, what does that entail in a given circumstance? One can be sincerely wrong regarding that point. May we, by grace, know in each circumstance what one must do to love one’s neighbors as effectively as possible, for their benefit and God’s glory.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 17, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF ADVENT
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, ABOLITIONIST AND FEMINIST; AND MARIA STEWART, ABOLITIONIST, FEMINIST, AND EDUCATOR
THE FEAST OF EGLANTYNE JEBB AND DOROTHY BUXTON, FOUNDERS OF SAVE THE CHILDREN
THE FEAST OF FRANK MASON NORTH, U.S. METHODIST MINISTER
THE FEAST OF MARY CORNELIA BISHOP GATES, U.S. DUTCH REFORMED HYMN WRITER
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2016/12/17/the-apocalyptic-discourse-part-v/
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Above: The Destruction of Sodom
Image in the Public Domain
The Apocalyptic Discourse, Part IV
AUGUST 6, 2023
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The Collect:
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Genesis 19:1-29
Psalm 59
Matthew 24:33-35 (36-44) or Luke 17:20-37
1 John 2:3-29 or 2 John 1-13 or 2 Peter 2:1-22
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False teaching becomes apparent in bad behavior. Simply put, one will know a tree by its fruits, or deeds reveal creeds. If I affirm that I have a moral obligation to think of the best interests of others, I will act accordingly more often than not.
Living according to love is the best way to spend one’s time on Earth. By doing so one will not, for example, seek to rape anyone–such as daughters or angels–as in Genesis 19. By living according to love (as in 2 John 5b-6) one will not seek anyone’s blood or life. By living according to love one will not mislead anyone spiritually or theologically. By living according to love one will think of the best interests of others and recognize them as being one’s own best interests, and therefore seek the common good, not selfish gain.
God has called us to love one another and to glorify Himself, not to become legalistic people who imagine ourselves to be spiritual elites.
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment , are gummed up in the sentence “You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
–Romans 13:8-10, Revised Standard Version–Second Edition (1971)
Furthermore,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such there is no law.
–Galatians 5:22-23, RSV II (1971)
And such things do not provoke divine, apocalyptic wrath.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 17, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF ADVENT
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, ABOLITIONIST AND FEMINIST; AND MARIA STEWART, ABOLITIONIST, FEMINIST, AND EDUCATOR
THE FEAST OF EGLANTYNE JEBB AND DOROTHY BUXTON, FOUNDERS OF SAVE THE CHILDREN
THE FEAST OF FRANK MASON NORTH, U.S. METHODIST MINISTER
THE FEAST OF MARY CORNELIA BISHOP GATES, U.S. DUTCH REFORMED HYMN WRITER
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2016/12/17/the-apocalyptic-discourse-part-iv/
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Above: The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem, by David Roberts
Image in the Public Domain
The Apocalyptic Discourse, Part III
JULY 30, 2023
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The Collect:
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Deuteronomy 4:32:40 or Isaiah 65:10-16 (17-25) or Ezekiel 7:(1-9) 10-27 or Zechariah 14:(1-3) 4-9 (10-21)
Psalm 50:(7-8) 9-21 (22-23) or Psalm 105:(1-6) 12-15 (26) 27-36 (37, 43-45)
Matthew 24:15-22 or Mark 13:14-20 or Luke 21:20-24
1 Corinthians 10:(14-17) 18-11:1
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The ominous tone of judgment hangs over the readings for this Sunday. How dare those who have witnessed the power and the mercy of God disregard Him? Yet we find mercy combined with judgment. Besides apocalyptic destruction of the corrupt human order, based on violence and exploitation, precedes the establishment of God’s new order on Earth.
I think it important to point out that offenses in the readings are not just personal peccadilloes. Social injustice is a recurring theme in apocalyptic literature, which therefore emphasizes institutionalized sins. The pericope from 1 Corinthians reminds us of the truth that whatever we do affects other people. We should therefore act according to the moral obligation to consider the scruples of others. I propose that this is a fine principle one can take too far, for, if we become too sensitive regarding the scruples of others, we will do little or nothing, certainly little or nothing good. The guiding principle (from 10:31) is to behave for the glory of God.
There is no sin in glorifying God and effecting the common good. There is no sin in not exploiting anyone. There is no sin in loving one’s neighbors and recognizing one’s obligations to them in the societal web of interdependence. There is no sin in making love the rule of life (2 John 5b-6).
Doing so does not prompt the judgment of God.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 17, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF ADVENT
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, ABOLITIONIST AND FEMINIST; AND MARIA STEWART, ABOLITIONIST, FEMINIST, AND EDUCATOR
THE FEAST OF EGLANTYNE JEBB AND DOROTHY BUXTON, FOUNDERS OF SAVE THE CHILDREN
THE FEAST OF FRANK MASON NORTH, U.S. METHODIST MINISTER
THE FEAST OF MARY CORNELIA BISHOP GATES, U.S. DUTCH REFORMED HYMN WRITER
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2016/12/17/the-apocalyptic-discourse-part-iii/
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This is post #850 of ORDINARY TIME DEVOTIONS.
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Above: The Testament and Death of Moses, by Luca Signorelli
Image in the Public Domain
The Apocalyptic Discourse, Part II
JULY 23, 2023
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The Collect:
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Deuteronomy 31:(1-22) 23-29 or Micah 7:1-7 or Daniel (11:40-45) 12:1-13
Psalm 54
Matthew 10:17-22a; 24:9-14 or Mark 13:9-13
1 Corinthians 9:1-15
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Human nature is corrupt, we read in Deuteronomy 31 and Micah 7. We do not require these or any other texts to grasp that truth, do we? All we need to do is to understand ourselves and follow current events and study the past if we are to be aware of our flawed nature. As St. Paul the Apostle reminds us down the corridors of time, our only proper basis is in God–Christ Jesus, to be precise. God will ultimately destroy the corrupt human order, founded on violence and exploitation, and replace it with a just social, economic, and political order. Certainly we are incapable of accomplishing that goal.
As much as we might seek divine destruction of our enemies, we must be careful not to fall into the trap of living as vengeful people. As we read in 2 John 5b-6, love is supposed to be our rule of life. Even during times of persecution love is properly the rule of life. This is a lofty spiritual goal–one which requires us to resist our nature and to rely on divine grace. How can we be God’s salt and light in the world if we do otherwise? We are free in Christ Jesus to glorify God wherever we are, and no matter under what circumstances we live. May we, in all circumstances, to quote my bishop, love like Jesus, by grace.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 17, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF ADVENT
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, ABOLITIONIST AND FEMINIST; AND MARIA STEWART, ABOLITIONIST, FEMINIST, AND EDUCATOR
THE FEAST OF EGLANTYNE JEBB AND DOROTHY BUXTON, FOUNDERS OF SAVE THE CHILDREN
THE FEAST OF FRANK MASON NORTH, U.S. METHODIST MINISTER
THE FEAST OF MARY CORNELIA BISHOP GATES, U.S. DUTCH REFORMED HYMN WRITER
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2016/12/17/the-apocalyptic-discourse-part-ii/
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Above: Temple of Solomon
Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor
The Apocalyptic Discourse, Part I
JULY 16, 2023
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The Collect:
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Jeremiah 7:1-15 or Daniel 2:1-49
Psalm 17:8-14 (15) or Psalm 83
Matthew 24:1-8 or Mark 13:1-8
1 Corinthians 7:1-40
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Timothy Matthew Slemmons, creator of the Year D project and author of the book in which I find the citations for this series of devotions, sets aside five Sundays for “the Apocalyptic Discourse,” which precedes “the Prelude to the Passion” (four Sundays) and “the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (ten Sundays), which leads directly into Christ the King Sunday. This arrangement presents an opportunity to delve into material usually ignored, minimized, or squeezed into Holy Week.
Holy rituals and the Temple at Jerusalem are not protective talismans that shield us as we commit idolatry, oppress the vulnerable, victimize foreigners, shed the blood of the innocent at holy places, commit adultery, steal, and/or murder, Jeremiah says. He and other Hebrew prophets agree that proper worship of God entails not just correct ritual but good morality; the first without the second is a mockery of God and the ritual. Do not trust too much in the Temple, Jeremiah says. Jesus makes a similar statement about that Temple’s successor. Both buildings will cease to exist in time, we read.
They did.
The apocalyptic theme continues. In Daniel the quality of material in the statue from the dream becomes progressively less impressive. The world of human beings, with their military-based empires, degrades. One should not trust much in those either. Neither should one put much stock in marriage, according to St. Paul the Apostle. According to St. Paul in 1 Corinthians, marriage is a cause for anxiety and distraction from a spiritual orientation during the last days (which he thought were in progress), but at least it is preferable to sinning.
Where, then, should one place one’s trust? In God, of course. The two options for this psalm this Sunday are pleas for divine vindication and destruction of one’s enemies (in contrast to the treatment of the Aramean raiders in 2 Kings 6:8-23). In Year D (2013) Slemmons emphasizes Psalm 83, with,
Cover their faces with shame, O LORD,
that they may seek your Name.
–Verse 16, The Book of Common Prayer (1979),
a rendering, with some variations, common to many translations. Yet, as I read Psalm 83, I notice that
that they may seek your Name
is out-of-place with the rest of the text, which pleads for their destruction. One might explain this inconsistency by pointing out that human beings are frequently inconsistent, holding two mutually exclusive opinions simultaneously. The translation by the late Mitchell J. Dahood, an eminent scholar of Semitic languages, for The Anchor Bible, tilts toward
a coherent exegesis within the immediate context
—Psalms II (1968), page 277,
and renders the verse in question thusly:
Fill their faces with shame,
and let your Name, Yahweh, avenge itself.
As a Presbyterian minister I know says,
Translating Hebrew is a bear.
Certainly the apocalyptic mindset and genre thrives during times of difficulty, especially oppression. We humans tend to seek the destruction of our foes anyway, but more so during times of oppression. I understand that the deliverance of the righteous by God might entail the destruction of the wicked, especially at times when the oppressors insist on oppressing and not repenting, but the story of capturing Aramean raiders, treating them kindly before repatriating them (2 Kings 6) sticks in my memory. As I wrote in the post in which I dealt with that account, how we treat others–especially our enemies–is really about who we are, not who they are.
So who are we?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 17, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF ADVENT
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, ABOLITIONIST AND FEMINIST; AND MARIA STEWART, ABOLITIONIST, FEMINIST, AND EDUCATOR
THE FEAST OF EGLANTYNE JEBB AND DOROTHY BUXTON, FOUNDERS OF SAVE THE CHILDREN
THE FEAST OF FRANK MASON NORTH, U.S. METHODIST MINISTER
THE FEAST OF MARY CORNELIA BISHOP GATES, U.S. DUTCH REFORMED HYMN WRITER
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2016/12/17/the-apocalyptic-discourse-part-i/
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Above: Icon of Ezekiel
Image in the Public Domain
Limitless Goodness
NOVEMBER 18, 2019
NOVEMBER 19, 2019
NOVEMBER 20, 2019
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The Collect:
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without you nothing is strong, nothing is holy.
Embrace us with your mercy, that with you as our ruler and guide,
we may live through what is temporary without losing what is eternal,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
—Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 53
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The Assigned Readings:
Ezekiel 11:14-25 (Monday)
Ezekiel 39:21-40:4 (Tuesday)
Ezekiel 43:1-12 (Wednesday)
Psalm 141 (All Days)
Ephesians 4:25-5:2 (Monday)
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 (Tuesday)
Matthew 23:37-24:14 (Wednesday)
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But my eyes are turned to you, Lord GOD;
in you I take refuge;
do not strip me of my life.
–Psalm 141:8, The Book of Common Prayer (1979)
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The reading from Matthew is apocalyptic and Psalm 141 is also bleak. These texts come from difficult times. Oppressed people pray for God to destroy their enemies. The textual context in Matthew is the impending crucifixion of Jesus. From the perspective of the composition of the Gospel itself, however, there is wrestling with fading expectations of Christ’s imminent Second Coming. One also detects echoes of reality for Matthew’s audience, contending with persecution (or the threat thereof) and conflict with non-Christian Jews.
We read of mercy following judgment in Ezekiel 11, 39, 40, and 43. Punishment for societal sins will ensue, but so will restoration. In the end, God’s Presence returns to Jerusalem, which it departed in Chapters 10 and 11.
Those sins included not only idolatry but judicial corruption and economic injustice, which, of course, hurt the poor the most. Not seeking the common good violated the Law of Moses. Seeking the common good defined the assigned readings from Ephesians and 1 Corinthians.
“Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds up. No one should seek his own advantage, but that of his neighbor.
–1 Corinthians 10:23-24, The New American Bible (1991)
We also read, in the context of how we treat each other:
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, for that Spirit is the seal with which you were marked for the day of final liberation.
–Ephesians 4:30, The Revised English Bible (1989)
Those are fine guiding principles. Some of the details in their vicinity in the texts might not apply to your circumstances, O reader, but such lists are not comprehensive and some examples are specific to cultures and settings. Timeless principles transcend circumstances and invite us to apply them when and where we are. May we live them in love of God and our fellow human beings, daring even to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-48). That is a difficult standard to meet, but it is possible via grace.
There must be no limit to your goodness, as your heavenly Father’s goodness knows no bounds.
–Matthew 5:48, The Revised English Bible (1989)
Amen.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JUNE 6, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF FRANKLIN CLARK FRY, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA AND THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
THE FEAST OF SAINT CLAUDE OF BESANCON, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST, MONK, ABBOT, AND BISHOP
THE FEAST OF HENRY JAMES BUCKOLL, AUTHOR AND TRANSLATOR OF HYMNS
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM KETHE, PRESBYTERIAN HYMN WRITER
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/limitless-goodness/
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Above: The Ark of the Covenant in the Temple of Dagon
Image in the Public Domain
Keeping Faith
AUGUST 11-13, 2022
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The Collect:
O God, judge eternal, you love justice and hate oppression,
and you call us to share your zeal for truth.
Give us courage to take our stand with all victims of bloodshed and greed,
and, following your servants and prophets, to look to the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,
your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
—Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 45
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The Assigned Readings:
Joshua 7:1, 10-26 (Thursday)
1 Samuel 5:1-12 (Friday)
1 Samuel 6:1-16 (Saturday)
Psalm 82 (All Days)
Hebrews 10:26-31 (Thursday)
Hebrews 10:32-39 (Friday)
Matthew 24:15-27 (Saturday)
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God takes his stand in the divine assembly,
surrounded by the gods he gives judgement.
–Psalm 82:1, The New Jerusalem Bible (1985)
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In 1 Samuel 5 and 6 Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant, which proved to be more than they knew how to handle. Idols bowed down to the Ark. The Ashdodites came down with what was most likely venereal disease, although other translations include hemorrhoids and the bubonic plague. The Philistines returned the Ark promptly.
God is more than we mere mortals can handle or contain. Some of our theological propositions are true (at least partially), but the combination of these does not equal the truth of God. There is always a glorious mystery of divinity; one should accept and embrace it. We ought to persevere in faith and good works, especially when doing so is difficult. Doing the right thing during good times is easy, and every day is a good day for faith and good works. Yet keeping faith during challenging times is when, as an old saying tells us, the rubber meets the road. When we fail, we have an obligation to express remorse and to repent.
Writing these words and creating this post is easy. Living these words is more difficult, however. I have to work on that task daily. The results vary from day to day and from time of day to time of day. To keep trying is crucial. To do so while trusting in God, who is always somewhat mysterious, and in the existence of grace makes succeeding more likely.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MARCH 23, 2016 COMMON ERA
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK
THE FEAST OF GEORGE RUNDLE PRYNNE, ANGLICAN PRIEST, POET, AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF SAINT GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR, PATRIARCH OF ARMENIA
THE FEAST OF HEINRICH VON LAUFENBERG, GERMAN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF SAINT TURIBIUS OF MOGROVEJO, ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF LIMA
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/keeping-faith/
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ORDINARY TIME DEVOTIONS 
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