Archive for the ‘Philippians 4’ Tag
Above: The Parable of the Unworthy Wedding Guest, by Claes Corneliszaen Moeyaert
Image in the Public Domain
Three Banquets
OCTOBER 22, 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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Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 23
Philippians 4:4-13
Matthew 22:1-10 (11-14)
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Almighty God, source of every blessing,
your generous goodness comes to us anew every day.
By the work of your Spirit,
lead us to acknowledge your goodness,
give thanks for your benefits,
and serve you in willing obedience;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Lutheran Book of Worship (1978), 28
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Enlighten our minds, we pray, O God,
by the Spirit who proceeds from you,
that, as your Son has promised,
we may be led into all truth;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
who lives and reigns and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
—Lutheran Worship (1982), 85
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The eschatological banquet is a motif in the Bible. It is a powerful image, given that (a) most people were poor, and (b) most land was not arable. The eschatological banquet speaks of divine abundance. Isaiah 25 comes from the great proto-apocalypse of Third Isaiah (see chapters 24-27). The Parable of the Wedding Feast tells of God’s inclusiveness in inviting guests and of the dire consequences of attending without the “garment” of repentance of sins. Psalm 23 depicts God as overpowering yet not destroying the Psalmist’s enemies, who must watch the banquet to which God has not invited them.
Philippians 4:8 meshes well with the theme of repentance, present in the parable:
Finally, brothers, let your minds be filled with everything that is true, everything that is honourable, everything that is upright and pure, everything that we love and admire–with whatever is good and praiseworthy.
—The New Jerusalem Bible (1985)
That is a fine description of a metaphorical wedding garment.
Recall also, O reader, that in Psalm 23, only goodness and mercy pursue or accompany (depending on the translation) the Psalmist. The enemies cannot keep up with God.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 19, 2022 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT SIXTUS III, BISHOP OF ROME
THE FEAST OF BLAISE PASCAL, FRENCH ROMAN CATHOLIC SCIENTIST, MATHEMATICIAN, AND THEOLOGIAN
THE FEAST OF GEERT GROOTE, FOUNDER OF THE BRETHREN OF THE COMMON LIFE
THE FEAST OF IGNAZ FRANZ, GERMAN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST, HYMN WRITER, AND HYMNAL EDITOR
THE FEAST OF SAINTS MAGNUS AND AGRICOLA OF AVIGNON, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF AVIGNON
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM HAMMOND, ENGLISH MORAVIAN HYMN WRITER
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Link to the corresponding post at BLOGA THEOLOGICA
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Above: A Yoke
Image in the Public Domain
Yokes
JULY 16, 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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Zechariah 9:9-12
Psalm 45:1-2 (3-13), 14-22 (LBW) or Psalm 119:137-144 (LW)
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:25-30
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God of glory, Father of love, peace comes from you alone.
Send us as peacemakers and witnesses to your kingdom,
and fill our hearts with joy in your promises of salvation;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Lutheran Book of Worship (1978), 25
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Grant, Lord, that the course of this world
may be so governed by your direction
that your Church may rejoice
in serving you in godly peace and quietness;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
—Lutheran Worship (1982), 68
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Zechariah 9:9-12 depicts a future scene, in which the Messiah, an ideal king, approaches Jerusalem at the culmination of history–the Day of the LORD. This is the scene Jesus reenacted during his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, without being a regnant type of Messiah.
The image of YHWH as king exists in the assigned readings from Psalms.
In Romans 7:15-25a we read St. Paul the Apostle’s confession of his struggles with sins. We may all relate to those struggles.
My tour of the readings brings me to Matthew 11:25-30 and the topic of yokes.
Literally, a yoke was a wooden frame, loops of ropes, or a rod with loops of rope, depending on the purpose. (See Numbers 19:2; Deuteronomy 21:3; and Jeremiah 28:10.) A yoke fit over the neck of a draft animal or the necks of draft animals. Alternatively, a captive or a slave wore a yoke. (See Jeremiah 28:10; 1 Kings 12:9; 2 Chronicles 10:4; and 1 Timothy 6:1). Also, a yoked pair of oxen was a yoke. (See 1 Samuel 11:7; 1 Kings 19:21; Luke 14:19).
Metaphorically, a yoke had a variety of meanings, depending on the circumstances. It often symbolized servitude and subjection. Forced labor was an unjust yoke (1 Kings 11:28; 12:11, 14). Slavery was a yoke (Sirach 33:27). Hardship was a yoke (Lamentations 3:27; Sirach 40:1). The oppression and humiliation of one nation by another was the yoke of bondage (Jeremiah 27:8; 28:4; Hosea 11:7; Deuteronomy 28:48; and Isaiah 47:6). To break out of subjugation or slavery was to break the yoke (Jeremiah 28:2; Isaiah 9:4; 14:25). God promised to break the yoke of Egypt in Ezekiel 30:18. To break away from God was to break God’s yoke (Jeremiah 2:20; 5:5; Sirach 51:39). Sin was also a yoke (Lamentations 1:14).
The yokes of God and Christ carry positive connotations. The yoke of obedience to God is easy. It is also the opposite of the yoke of subordination and subjugation. This positive yoke is the yoke in Matthew 11:28-30. It is the yoke St. Paul the Apostle wore (Philippians 4:3). It is the yoke in Psalm 119:137-144.
Draw near to me, you who are untaught,
and lodge in my school.
Why do you say you are lacking in these things,
and why are your souls very thirsty?
I opened my mouth and said,
Get these things for yourselves without money.
Put your neck under the yoke,
and let your souls receive instruction;
it is to be found close by.
See with your eyes that I have labored little
and found for myself much rest.
Get instruction with a large sum of silver
and you will gain by it much gold.
May your soul rejoice in his mercy,
and may you not be put to shame when you praise him.
Do your work before the appointed time,
and in God’s time he will give you your reward.
–Sirach 51:23-30, Revised Standard Version–Second Catholic Edition (2002)
You, O reader, will serve somebody or something. That is not in question. Whom or what you will serve is a germane question. Why not serve God, the greatest king? In so doing, you will find your best possible state of being. The path may be difficult–ask St. Paul the Apostle, for example–but it will be the best path for you.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MAY 14, 2022 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF FRANCIS MAKEMIE, FATHER OF AMERICAN PRESBYTERIANISM AND ADVOCATE FOR RELIGIOUS TOLERATION
THE FEAST OF SAINT CARTHAGE THE YOUNGER, IRISH ABBOT-BISHOP
THE FEAST OF SAINT MARIA DOMINICA MAZZARELLO, CO-FOUNDER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
THE FEAST OF SAINT THEODORE I, BISHOP OF ROME
THE FEAST OF SAINTS VICTOR THE MARTYR AND CORONA OF DAMASCUS, MARTYRS IN SYRIA, 165
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Link to the corresponding post at BLOGA THEOLOGICA
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Above: Za’atri Refugee Camp for Syrian Refugees, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, July 18, 2013
Image in the Public Domain
Image Source = United States Department of State
Gratitude and the Golden Rule
NOVEMBER 24, 2022
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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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Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 126
Philippians 4:4-9
John 6:25-35
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All we have comes from God. The Biblical ethic of mutuality begins here. It continues by teaching that we are all responsible to and for each other. We, therefore, have no right to exploit or victimize anyone.
These texts take us–you, O reader, and me–into the realm of collective responsibility. That gets us into laws, policies, and politics. Deuteronomy 26 points to immigrants and refugees, in particular. Nativism and xenophobia are not proper Biblical values, but they are staples of many laws and policies (especially immigration laws and policies) and much political activity. This constitutes a violation of the Golden Rule.
Philippians 4 offers wonderful communal advice. Christian toleration (not of evil, of course) should be a defining characteristic of faith community and society. People ought to fill their minds with that which is noble, good, and pure.
Repaying God for all the blessings God has bestowed is impossible. God does not command repayment, fortunately. A faithful response is in order, though. Gratitude is part of that faithful response. One may properly express that gratitude in more than one way. Words and thoughts of “thank you” are appropriate. Participation in corporate worship, when possible and when responsible, according to public health concerns, is crucial, also. Keeping divine commandments is a mandated expression of love for God in both Testaments. And both Testaments teach that love for God and love for our fellow human beings are intertwined.
So, how grateful are we, collectively and individually? And how many types of people are we willing to love in the name of God? Furthermore, how politically controversial will living according to the Golden Rule be?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
FEBRUARY 3, 2021 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINTS ANSKAR AND RIMBERT, ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOPS OF HAMBURG-BREMEN
THE FEAST OF ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER, ENGLISH POET AND FEMINIST
THE FEAST OF SAINT ALFRED DELP, GERMAN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND MARTYR, 1945
THE FEAST OF JEMIMA THOMPSON LUKE, ENGLISH CONGREGATIONALIST HYMN WRITER; AND JAMES EDMESTON, ANGLICAN HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF SAMUEL DAVIES, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2021/02/03/gratitude-and-the-golden-rule/
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Above: Thanksgiving Day–The Dance, by Winslow Homer
Image in the Public Domain
Gratitude
NOVEMBER 23, 2023
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Since antiquity and in cultures from many parts of the Earth harvest festivals have been occasions of thanksgiving. In the United States of America, where the first national observance of Thanksgiving occurred in 1863, the November date has related to the harvest feast in Plymouth in 1621. Prior to 1863 some U.S. states had an annual thanksgiving holiday, and there was a movement for the national holiday. Liturgically the occasion has remained tied to harvest festivals, although the meaning of the holiday has been broader since 1863. The Episcopal Church has observed its first Book of Common Prayer in 1789. Nationwide Thanksgiving Day has become part of U.S. civil religion and an element of commercialism, which might actually be the primary sect of civil religion in the United States. The Almighty Dollar attracts many devotees.
Too easily and often this holiday deteriorates into an occasion to gather with relatives while trying (often in vain) to avoid shouting matches about politics and/or religion, or to watch television, or to be in some other awkward situation. The holiday means little to me; I find it inherently awkward. This state of affairs is the result of my youth, when my family and I, without relatives nearby, witnessed many of our neighbors hold family reunions on the holiday. Thanksgiving Day, therefore, reminds me of my lifelong relative isolation.
Nevertheless, I cannot argue with the existence of occasions to focus on gratitude to God. The Bible teaches us in both Testaments that we depend entirely on God, depend on each other, are responsible to and for each other, and have no right to exploit each other. The key word is mutuality, not individualism. I embrace the focus on this ethos.
A spiritual practice I find helpful is to thank God throughout each day, from the time I awake to the time I go to bed. Doing so helps one recognize how fortunate one is. The electrical service is reliable. The breeze is pleasant. The sunset is beautiful. Reading is a great pleasure. The list is so long that one can never reach the end of it, but reaching the end of that list is not the goal anyway. No, the goal is to be thankful and to live thankfully.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF THE HOLY CROSS
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Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season,
and for the labors of those who harvest them.
Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty,
for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need,
to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Deuteronomy 8:1-3, 6-10 (17-20)
Psalm 65 or Psalm 65:9-14
James 1:17-18, 21-27
Matthew 6:25-33
—Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints (2010), 701
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Almighty God our Father, your generous goodness comes to us new every day.
By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness,
give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Year A
Deuteronomy 8:7-18
Psalm 65
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Luke 17:11-19
Year B
Joel 2:21-27
Psalm 126
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Matthew 6:25-33
Year C
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Psalm 100
Philippians 4:4-9
John 6:25-35
—Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 61
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Deuteronomy 8:1-10
Philippians 4:6-20 or 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Luke 17:11-19
—Lutheran Service Book (2006), xxiii
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Originally published at SUNDRY THOUGHTS
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Above: Icon of the Entombment of Christ
Image in the Public Domain
The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Part X
NOVEMBER 19, 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:
Nahum 3:1-19 or Zechariah 12:1-13:1
Psalm 77:(1-2) 3-10 (11-20)
Matthew 27:57-66 or Mark 15:42-47 or Luke 23:50-56 or John 19:31-42
Philippians 3:1-4a; 4:10-23
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All of the options for the Gospel reading leave Jesus dead in a borrowed tomb. This is the situation on the penultimate Sunday of Year D. This makes liturgical sense, for the last Sunday of the church year is the Feast of Christ the King.
The other readings assigned for Proper 28 provide the promise of better things to come. Psalm 77 speaks of the mighty acts of God in the context of a dire situation. The apocalyptic Zechariah 12:1-13:1 promises the victory of God. Nahum 3:1-19 deals with the overthrow of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, marked by violence and hubris. Finally, the triumph of Jesus in his resurrection is evident in the readings from the Pauline epistles.
One should trust in God, who is powerful, trustworthy, and compassionate.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 21, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF ADVENT
THE FEAST OF SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE, MARTYR
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2016/12/21/the-passion-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-part-x/
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Above: Abraham and the Three Angels, by Gustave Dore
Image in the Public Domain
God’s Surprises
JULY 26, 2021
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The Collect:
Gracious God, you have placed within the hearts of all your children
a longing for your word and a hunger for your truth.
Grant that we may know your Son to be the true bread of heaven
and share this bread with all the world,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 43
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The Assigned Readings:
Genesis 18:1-15
Psalm 111
Philippians 4:10-20
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Reverence for the LORD is the first step to wisdom,
good success comes to all who obey his laws.
His people will never stop praising him.
–Psalm 111:10, Harry Mowvley, The Psalms Introduced and Newly Translated for Today’s Readers (1989)
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Sometimes, however, distress comes to those who obey God’s laws. Consider, O reader, St. Paul the Apostle, who suffered death threats, incarceration, beatings, a shipwreck, and an execution. Consider also, O reader, the church he planted at Philippi. That congregation had to contend with internal and external threats, from anti-Christian authorities to Gnostics. Yet the Philippian church, for all its struggles, was generous of spirit and helped St. Paul in tangible ways.
Depending on our expectations, some of God’s methods might surprise us. One might expect a persecuted and struggling community to be preoccupied with its own troubles. And, as for Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18, a pregnancy certainly falls into the category of the unexpected. The spiritual lesson I offer based on these readings is that we ought to open our minds and move beyond our usual expectations regarding what God might do and how God might do it. We have certainly missed some blessings because we have not been looking in the right place at the right time.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
APRIL 5, 2015 COMMON ERA
EASTER SUNDAY, YEAR B
THE FEAST OF MILNER BALL, PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER, LAW PROFESSOR, WITNESS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, AND HUMANITARIAN
THE FEAST OF SAINT NOKTER BALBULUS, ROMAN CATHOLIC MONK
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https://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2015/04/05/gods-surprises/
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Above: Paul Writing His Epistles, by Valentin de Boulogne
Image in the Public Domain
Godly Desires
OCTOBER 16 and 17, 2023
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The Collect:
Lord of the feast, you have prepared a table before all peoples
and poured out your life with abundance.
Call us again to your banquet.
Strengthen us by what is honorable, just, and pure,
and transform us into a people or righteousness and peace,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 49
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The Assigned Readings:
Exodus 19:7-20 (Monday)
Amos 9:5-15 (Tuesday)
Psalm 34 (Both Days)
Jude 17-25 (Monday)
Philippians 3:13-4:1 (Tuesday)
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The troubles of the righteous are many:
but the Lord sets them free from them all.
The Lord guards every bone in the body of the righteous:
and so not one of them is broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked:
and those who hate the righteous are brought to ruin.
–Psalm 34:19-21, A New Zealand Prayer Book (1989)
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Psalm 34 is a prayer of thanksgiving by one whom God had delivered from great difficulty. Much of the text constitutes timeless truth, but I detect a level of optimism which many people from Jeremiah to Jesus might have called excessive. I, as one who has studied Christian history, add to that list nearly two thousand years’ worth of suffering Christians, many of them martyrs, from St. Stephen to contemporary martyrs.
Nevertheless, the text does provide the unifying theme for this devotion:
Turn away from evil and do good:
seek peace and steadily pursue it.
–Verse 14, A New Zealand Prayer Book (1989)
The reading from Jude speaks of the duties of love. Among these is practicing compassion, something one can do only if self does not occupy the throne of one’s life. In that lesson we read also that there will be mockers who follow their godless desires. That description fits the rape gang at Sodom in Genesis 19. Lot, who offers his two virgin daughters to that gang, is also of dubious character. The reading from Amos reminds us that divine favor does not function as a talisman protecting people from the consequences of their sins. And St. Paul the Apostle, in Philippians, mentions the suffering of many of the faithful (including himself) and the different fates of the righteous and the unrighteous in the afterlife, thereby bringing the readings back around to Psalm 34, but with a more sober and realistic tone.
May we, following the Apostle’s advice, stand firm in the Lord, walking compassionately in the way of divine love and disregarding the humiliation which enemies of the cross of Christ heap upon those who are of our Lord and Savior. And may we strive properly
toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
–Philippians 3:14, The New Revised Standard Version (1989)
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 31, 2014 COMMON ERA
PROPER 17: THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR A
THE FEAST OF SAINT AIDAN OF LINDISFARNE, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
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Godly Desires
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Above: Martin Luther
Image in the Public Domain
The Surprises and Faithfulness of God
AUGUST 3-5, 2023
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The Collect:
Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness,
and you cover creation with abundance.
Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit,
and with this food fill all the starving world,
through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 43
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The Assigned Readings:
Proverbs 10:1-5 (Thursday)
Isaiah 51:17-23 (Friday)
Isaiah 44:1-5 (Saturday)
Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 (All Days)
Philippians 4:10-15 (Thursday)
Romans 9:6-13 (Friday)
Matthew 7:7-11 (Saturday)
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The LORD is faithful in all his words
and merciful in his deeds.
–Psalm 145:14, The Book of Common Prayer (1979)
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The faithfulness of God was among the theological emphases of Martin Luther. That point, an excellent one, unifies the assigned readings for these days.
God is full of surprises from human perspectives. God works outside of human traditions–such as primogeniture–much of the time. Even repentant prostitutes and collaborators with the Roman Empire preceded certain respectable religious people into Heaven, according to Jesus. We desire cheap grace, that forgives our sins yet requires nothing of us. Yet we receive free grace, that which we cannot buy yet which requires much of us. It is therefore free yet costly. It cost St. Paul the Apostle a life of comfort inside the religious establishment then cost him his life. This grace, which does not remove the temporal consequences of sin, waits for us nevertheless at the end of punishment.
Sometimes we mere mortals are God’s chosen channels and vehicles of grace. May we be the best and most faithful such channels and vehicles possible, by grace. (Everything seems to come back to grace.) If we fail in this function, the consequences to others can be severe. Proverbs 10:4 (The New Revised Standard Version, 1989) reads:
A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
This is not always true. Had the author of that verse not heard of the working poor and the idle rich? Most people in Palestine in antiquity were peasants, but not lazy individuals. The masses were poor, the upper class constituted a minority, and the middle class was scarce or absent. Structural barriers to upward mobility remain in our world. They are, fortunately, not as intense in some places as in others, but their continued existence is sinful.
How will God surprise us next? The divine call to all of us will differ in details. Some of us ought to oppose social structures of injustice as our primary vocation, functioning as thorns in the sides of powerful and dangerous people. St. Paul thought that Jesus would return within his lifetime, so he left reforming society to God. That was about two thousand years ago, so I propose that this work is a legitimate calling from God. Others of us will have different assignments to complete. There is plenty to do. May each of us listen attentively for our instructions then obey them. When we do that, what potential might God unlock in us and in those around us, those to whom God sends us, and those whom God sends to us? May we discover the answer to that question, by grace.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JUNE 14, 2014 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT BASIL THE GREAT, FATHER OF EASTERN MONASTICISM
THE FEAST OF DOROTHY FRANCES BLOMFIELD GURNEY, ENGLISH POET AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF SAINT METHODIUS I OF CONSTANTINOPLE, PATRIARCH
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This is Post #600 of ORDINARY TIME DEVOTIONS.
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The Surprises and Faithfulness of God
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Above: A Crucifix
Image Source = Benutzer HoKaff
Hatred and Violence
SEPTEMBER 11 AND 12, 2023
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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 everlasting 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:
2 Chronicles 29:1-24 (September 11)
2 Chronicles 31:1-21 (September 12)
Psalm 89:1-18 (Morning–September 11)
Psalm 97 (Morning–September 12)
Psalms 1 and 33 (Evening–September 11)
Psalms 16 and 62 (Evening–September 12)
Philippians 3:1-21 (September 11)
Philippians 4:1-23 (September 12)
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The 2006 Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Daily Lectionary has led me through Philippians for a few posts, ending with this one. Thus time the other main readings come from 2 Chronicles. I have combined these lections because
- They seem repetitive to me, and
- They abound with mind-numbing details which seem meaningless to me in the context of the cross of Christ.
As much as I reject the idea that God smote nations for idolatry and sent them into exile, I also reject Penal Substitutionary Atonement. I reject both for the same reason: They make God look like a thug. I do not worship a thug.
Yet turning back to God is always positive. That was what King Hezekiah did. And that was what Paul encouraged, even if he did resort to invective, calling advocates of circumcision “dogs” in Philippians 3:2.
The God of my faith is the one who, in the Resurrection of Jesus, demonstrated the power to thwart evil plans. The God of my faith is the one who hears prayer requests and who
will supply all your needs out of the magnificence of his riches in Christ Jesus.
–Philippians 4:19, Revised English Bible
The God of my faith is the one whose servant St. Paul the Apostle urged his friends at Philippi to focus on
…all that is true, all that is noble, all that is just and pure, all that is lovable and attractive, whatever is excellent and admirable….
–Philippians 4:8, Revised English Bible
That is excellent advice everyday, but especially on and around September 11, now the anniversary of a date which will live in infamy. Violence in the name of God is not sacred, for the love of God is incompatible with “sacred” violence. Yes, self-defense is necessary sometimes, but let us never mistake such a sad and imposed duty for a sacred task. What will it profit a person to return hatred for hatred? He or she will lose his or her soul and not bring glory the executed and resurrected Lord and Savior, who overcame hatred and violence with divine power and love.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
FEBRUARY 3, 2013 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF NICHOLAS KASATKIN, ORTHODOX ARCHBISHOP OF ALL JAPAN
THE FEAST OF SAINT ANSKAR, ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF HAMBURG-BREMEN
THE FEAST OF GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA, COMPOSER
THE FEAST OF MILLARD FULLER, FOUNDER OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
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http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/hatred-and-violence/
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Above: Johannes Brahms
Excellent and Admirable Things
NOVEMBER 5, 2022
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Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints (2010), of The Episcopal Church, contains an adapted two-years weekday lectionary for the Epiphany and Ordinary Time seasons from the Anglican Church of Canada. I invite you to follow it with me.
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Philippians 4:2-23 (Revised English Bible):
Euodia and Syntyche, I appeal to you both: agree together in the Lord. Yes and you too, my loyal comrade, I ask you to help these women, who shared my struggles in the cause of the gospel, with Clement and my other fellow-workers, who are enrolled in the book of life.
I wish you all joy in the Lord always. Again, I say: all joy be yours.
Be known to everyone for your consideration of others.
The Lord is near; do not be anxious, but in everything make your requests known to God in prayer and petition with thanksgiving. Then the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
And now, my friends, all that is true, all that is noble, all that is just and pure, all that is lovable and attractive, whatever is excellent and admirable–fill your thoughts with these things.
Put into practice the lessons I taught you, the tradition I have passed on, all that you heard me say or saw me do; and the God of peace will be with you.
It is a great joy to me in the Lord that after so long your care for me has now revived. I now you always cared; it was opportunity you lacked. Not that I am speaking of want, for I have learned to be self-sufficient whatever my circumstances. I know what it is to have nothing, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have been thoroughly initiated into fullness and hunger, plenty and poverty. I am able to face anything through him who gives me strength. All the same, it was kind of you to share the burden of my troubles.
You Philippians are aware that, when I set out from Macedonia in the early days of my mission, yours was the only church to share with me in the giving and receiving; more than once you contributed to my needs, even at Thessalonica. Do not think I set my heart on the gift; all I care for is the interest mounting up in your account. I have been paid in full; I have all I need and more, now that I have received from Epaphroditus what you sent. It is a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs out of the magnificence of his riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever! Amen.
Give my greetings, in the fellowship of Christ Jesus, to each one of God’s people. My colleagues send their greetings to you, and so do all God’s people here, particularly those in the emperor’s service.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Psalm 112 (1979 Book of Common Prayer):
1 Hallelujah!
Happy are they who fear the Lord
and have great delight in his commandments!
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in their house,
and their righteousness will last for ever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright;
the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.
5 It is good for them to be generous in lending
and to manage their affairs with justice.
6 For they will never be shaken;
the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.
7 They will not be afraid of any evil rumors;
their heart is right;
they put their trust in the Lord.
8 Their heart is established and will not shrink,
until they see that desire upon their enemies.
9 They have given freely to the poor,
and their righteousness stands fast for ever;
they will hold up their head with honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be angry;
they will gnash their teeth and pine away;
the desires of the wicked will perish.
Luke 16:9-15 (Revised English Bible):
[Jesus continued,]
So I say to you, use your worldly wealth to win friends for yourselves, so that when money is a thing of the past you may be received into an eternal home.
Anyone who can be trusted in small matters can be trusted also in great; and anyone who is dishonest in small matters is dishonest also in great. If, then, you have not proved trustworthy with the wealth of this world, who will trust you with the wealth that is real? And if you have proved untrustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you anything of your own?
No slave can serve two masters; for either he will hate the first and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and Money.
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and scoffed at him. He said to them,
You are the people who impress others with your righteousness; but God sees through you; for what is considered admirable in human eyes is detestable in the sight of God.
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The Collect:
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Some Related Posts:
Week of Proper 26: Saturday, Year 1:
https://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/week-of-proper-26-saturday-year-1/
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Enjoyment of Music:
http://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/a-prayer-of-thanksgiving-for-the-enjoyment-of-music/
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About ten years ago, in Statesboro, Georgia, I heard a secondhand story about an unnamed homeschooling parent in Bulloch County. She objected to soccer because, as she said, it was “too worldly.” This was an extreme case, for many homeschooling parents approve of a variety of sporting activities, including soccer, for their children. Yet the story does highlight an unduly narrow understanding of what is proper.
I find that the boundary between the sacred and the secular is porous. Brahms symphonies constitute sacred and ennobling music for me. On the other hand, much popular music is vacuous and a great deal of religious music (especially Southern Gospel and contemporary Christian) is annoying. And there is a great chasm between the sophistication of Cole Porter lyrics and those of many current popular songs.
Paul advised the Philippians to fill their thoughts with true, noble, pure, lovable, admirable, attractive, and excellent things. This covers a wide range of material, from Johannes Brahms to Franz Schubert, from John Coltrane to Charlie Parker, from William Shakespeare to John Milton. Yet I recall that Charles Finney, an evangelist of the Second Great Awakening, in the early 1800s, expressed disbelief
that a person who has ever known the love of God can relish a secular novel
or make book space for
Byron, Scott, Shakespeare, and a host of triflers and blasphemers of God.
(Finney quoted in Charles Sellers, The Market Revolution: Jacksonian America, 1815-1846, New York: Oxford University Press, 1991, page 230) As one who relishes quoting Shakespeare, I oppose Finney in this regard.
I wrote the rough draft of this post in a composition book while listening to the Symphony #1 by Johannes Brahms. I type this final draft while listening to classical music on the radio. Such music is truly noble, excellent and admirable. I prefer, in fact, to listen to such quality music in lieu of engaging in other activities, such as watching television. (I live without cable television, something I do not miss.) My spiritual journey entails entertaining the better angels of my nature. Brahms fits the bill nicely, as does Shakespeare.
KRT
http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/excellent-and-admirable-things/
ORDINARY TIME DEVOTIONS 
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