Sunday, December 27, 2015

First Sunday After Christmas

Psalm: Psalm 148 
Old Testament: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26  
Gospel:  Luke 2:41-52 
Epistle: Colossians 3:12-17

Today is the first Sunday after Christmas, or if you are following along with the Christian Calendar, the 3rd day of Christmas. So I guess we should be looking for "french hens" clucking around somewhere. The tradition I am a part of (The Church of the Nazarene) has recently done a better job of incorporating the preparatory seasons of the Church year, Advent and Lent for example, but I think we still have a ways to go in terms of actually celebrating the celebratory times of the year, Christmastide and Eastertide for example. Just as the preparation, waiting, and fasting are important in the communal life of the Church, so is celebrating what Christ has done and offering proper thanksgiving. Recognizing Christmas, Epiphany, and Easter as seasons, distinct from and after their respective holidays, also allows the church to give due time for reflection, thought, and sermons on each event. Following the Christian Calendar I believe is just one way (certainly not the only way) of creating space for churches and pastors to think deeper about the Sunday morning service and sermon. It allows and encourages both the pastor and the congregation to think about our lives in new ways in relation to the life of Christ. And it also creates ways for both to grow deeper in their understanding of theological concepts.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Advent Week 4

Psalm: Luke 1:47-55 or Psalm 80:1-7 
Old Testament: Micah 5:2-5a 
Gospel: Luke 1:39-45, 46-55 
Epistle: Hebrews 10:5-10

Today is the last Sunday before Christmas and so obviously the last Sunday of Advent. Christmas preparations are in full swing and many of us will be getting on the road or on a plane to travel somewhere. It is appropriate then as many of us prepare to travel that our reading this week concerns Mary as she travels to visit her relative, Elizabeth. In fact, the birth of Jesus revolves around 2 different trips: the first to Elizabeth and the second one is of course the trip to Bethlehem when Jesus was born. We have an idealized picture of Mary's pregnancy and Jesus birth, but Mary had to go on two journeys during her pregnancy and these were not like trips we take today. We have an image of Mary on a donkey as she traveled to Bethlehem but it's possible she had to walk the 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem at 8 months pregnant! So as you travel this week imagine Mary and Joseph as they journeyed to Bethlehem. When you experience flight delays, screaming children, or traffic remember that Jesus also entered into our world of chaos and travel.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Advent Week 3

Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-6
Old Testament: Zephaniah 3:14-20
 
Gospel: Luke 3:7-18
Epistle: Philippians 4:4-7


The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally the Sunday of joy: a time when we celebrate the joyous news of the incarnation. But our reading from Luke seems to be the exact opposite of a joyous message. Rather, it concerns the judgment of the world, and the wheat being separated into the barn while the chaff is thrown into the fire. The message is not really one of hope, joy, or salvation. But in verse 18 we have the interesting words, "So with many other exhortations he [John the Baptist] preached the gospel to the people. It is interesting that John the Baptist is the first one to preach the Gospel in the book of Luke. The angles have already announced good news (gospel) to both Zechariah, John's father, and to the shepherds at Jesus' birth, but it falls to John to bring this good news to the people.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Advent Week 2

Psalm: Luke 1:68-79
Old Testament: Malachi 3:1-4 or Baruch 5:1-9
 
Gospel: Luke 3:1-6
Epistle: Philippians 1:3-11


Today begins week two of Advent. The second week of Advent can focus on things such as love, John the Baptist, or even Bethlehem, depending on how the season is arranged for that year in each church. But I really think the Scriptures lend themselves this week to the idea of preparation. Last week, we looked at the idea of hope and waiting on what the Lord will do when he returns and inaugurates his Kingdom. But his followers are not supposed to just hangout on the sidelines and not engage the world. Jesus left us with tasks to do. We don't bring the Kingdom, only God can do that, but we do bear witness to it, and through the help of the Spirit, we can in some sense "prepare the way of the Lord."