Ordinary Time Week 13

Psalm: Psalm 84 or Psalm 34:15-22
Old Testament: 1 Kings 8 (1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43
  or Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Gospel: John 6:56-69
Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-20

'Tis the season for all things Back to School! Many of you have already started or you kids have, but students come back to classes this week for us. So this has me thinking about beginnings and starting things off right, and I think other than our Psalm this week, the scriptures all have something to say about how to start something off on the right foot.

Our Ephesians reading is a well-known passage of Scripture, especially for anyone who has ever been a child in church or been involved with children's ministry for awhile. In Ephesians 6:13-17 Paul uses the metaphor of a soldier getting ready for battle to explain how Christians are to approach their conflict with the worldly powers. He calls this the "armor of God." Of course we can see why this metaphor is used in children's ministry: it is easy to visualize and relatable to things children have seen before. But in terms of what I want to talk about today, armor is all about preparation. First, and obviously, armor is done before any actual battles begin. Second, armor must be put on in a certain order to be effective. Third, the sword must be sharp and all equipment fine-tuned to its specific purpose. Finally, in order for the armor to be effective, it all must be present. You can't go to battle, without a sword or a shield; every part serves a function from the boots all the way up to the head gear. Paul uses the metaphor of armor to his own uses and reminds us of the importance of being prepared and intentional in how we approach our lives.

Our reading from 1 Kings concerns the consecration of the Temple by Solomon. If there was ever something that took preparation in the life of Israel, it was this moment. You can trace the preparation from Abraham and the promise that his descendants will inherit this piece of land, up through the instructions for the Tabernacle at Mt. Sinai and then the implementation of those instructions at its building. Then there was David's desire to build a house for God and his amassing the materials necessary for his son to finish the project. All of the preparation and the building led up to day where Solomon is able to offer all the sacrifices and dedicate the Temple. The cloud of God's presence descended onto the Temple, and all of the preparation was worth it. This day, the culmination of 14 previous days of celebration, was the beginning point for the most holy place in Israel and as such it was crucial that it started in a manner worthy of its purpose.

Our last reading isn't about preparation exactly, but I think if we could just honestly believe and live out Peter's confession of faith in verses 68-69, then that would be a good start to the Christian life. He says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." Peter asks the questions and provides his own answer. There is no one else to go to who can provide the love and grace that Jesus can. Accepting that in our own lives and then offering God's love to others can be a daily challenge. So I think these words are a good thing to reflect on in a new school year or even just a new morning as you prepare for the day. Are we going to go to the Lord for our identity? Or will we find our identity in something else like our jobs, our school, and our families?

This week, and in this season of beginnings, may we start out on the right foot and put God first in our thoughts and actions.

Grace and Peace.