Lent Week 3

Psalm: Psalm 63:1-8
Old Testament: Isaiah 55:1-9
Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Welcome to the third week of Lent. I hope the last few weeks have been a time of growing closer to the Lord. I must admit the Scriptures during this season of Lent have not be easy to exegete or to find connections between the four readings. Indeed, in Luke this week, we have a strange parable from Jesus concerning Jerusalem  and Isaiah 55 is a vision of the restoration of Israel after the exile. 1 Cor 10 is an exhortation to persevere through temptation and not follow the example of the Israelites in the Exodus and our Psalm doesn't much relate to any of the other three readings. So, much like last week, it is a struggle to place these scriptures along side each other. But that is OK; we can still discuss one or two passages each week.

Lent Week 2

Psalm: Psalm 27
Old Testament: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Gospel: Luke 13:31-35 or 9:28-36
Epistle: Philippians 3:17-4:1

I want to briefly discuss the Psalm this week because it is a well-known Psalm and it has been a while since we have mentioned them. In fact, the last few weeks we have read a number of well-known Psalms and ones that are quoted in the New Testament. The interesting comparison comes between the first verse and the last. The psalmist begins with such hope and trust. He writes, 

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the defense of my life;

Whom shall I dread?

Lent Week 1

Psalm: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Gospel: Luke 4:1-13
Epistle: Romans 10:8b-13

The Lenten season starts today in case you are unaware or your church is not mentioning it. Lent is a time when we reflect both on who God is, as well as who we are in relation to him. During Lent we reflect both on the Original Sin that plagues all of creation as well as our own personal sins. It is for this reason that on Ash Wednesday we read the cry of Psalm 51:

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;

According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity

And cleanse me from my sin.

 For I know my transgressions,

And my sin is ever before me.

 Against You, You only, I have sinned

And done what is evil in Your sight,

So that You are justified when You speak

And blameless when You judge. (1-4)

Epiphany Week 4

Psalm: Psalm 71:1-6

Old Testament: Jeremiah 1:4-10

Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

I am still a week behind on my posts so I am reflecting on these passages right before Valentine's Day. So it is appropriate that today we read the "Love Chapter" as it is called from 1 Cor.  We have also already looked at the Gospel verses last week when I included them in our Gospel reading, so we don't need to go over them again.

The first thing we have to do is place this reading in the context of the Corinthian Epistle. Chapter 13 is in the middle of a discussion concerning spiritual gifts. Paul begins ch. 12 with these words, "Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this." He goes on to talk about things such as prophecy, teaching, healing, miracle working, and speaking in tongues.