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flinging not furrowed – a reflection on Mark 1:1-8

November 23, 2011

by rick

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Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament

Mattie upside-down

My youngest daughter Mattie, showing off a little joy.

The following is a reflection on Mark 1:1-8, the Gospel Lesson appointed for December 3rd, 2011, the second Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Hebrew Bible Lesson for the same day, and
• a version of the Prayers of the People for Advent 2B.

A few weeks ago a group from my parish met up in New York City to see the new revival production of Godspell.

The show is “in the round,” and when we got to our seats we all took the time to look around, a full 360 degrees, to see the various props and parts of the set which were strewn around the theater.

The first thing that caught my eye, and the eye of my oldest daughter, was the drip of water that was falling from the ceiling. It took a moment to see where the drip was falling – it looked like it just had to be falling on the stage.

Gosh, was this part of the show? Or, was this just an old leaky-ceilinged theater? Aren’t people going to be dancing on that stage? …Could be dangerous.

going round and round – a reflection on Isaiah 40:1-11

November 17, 2011

by rick

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Lectionary / Major Prophets / Paul

Gillians

The swings at Gillian's Wonderland on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Photo by Rick Morley.

The following is a reflection on Isaiah 40:1-11, the Hebrew Bible Lesson appointed for December 3rd, 2011, the second Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day, and
• a version of the Prayers of the People for Advent 2B.

Israel had sinned, and sinned mightily. God had saved them from Pharaoh’s hand, given them their own land (complete with milk and honey), and had claimed Israel as his very own.

And they had turned their back on him. They had forgotten the Lord their God. They had sinned against God and their neighbor. For their insolence, God had used the Babylonians to crush them, destroy Jerusalem, and carry the survivors off to Babylon to serve as slaves.

They had been slaves to Pharaoh, now they were slaves to Nebuchadnezzar. So many years had passed, and really, nothing had changed.

prayers of the people for Advent 1b

November 17, 2011

by rick

comments 3

Prayers of the People

These prayers are based largely on the Hebrew Bible Advent lessons for Year B. The body of the prayers will stay the same through Advent, but the initiating and concluding prayers will change, week by week. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Hebrew Bible Lesson for the same day, and.
• a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day.

Celebrant
In the hushed anticipation of your coming, O Lord, kindle in us the desire to remain awake; that we might be ready for your coming, and eager to pray.

Intercessor
O God, you are the potter, and we are the clay, the work of your hand. We pray for the church (especially…), that you might form us and mold us into the church you would have us be.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In your time, O Lord, the valleys shall be lifted up, the mountains and hills shall be made low, and the rough places will become a plain. We pray for our nation, and all nations, that your peace would be manifest in every corner of the earth.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In your Kingdom, O Lord, you bring unending comfort; you feed your flock like a shepherd, and gather the lambs into your arms. We pray for the sick, the suffering, and those in distress of any kind (especially…); that you would heal all injuries, comfort all grief, and settle all wrongs.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

Your great works of redemption, O God, span the ages. We pray for those who rejoice this week as they celebrate their birthday (especially… and anniversaries…); that they might obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing might flee away.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In the fulness of time, O God, you sent your son, to be born of our sister Mary. And his name was Emmanuel: God With Us. We thank you for your Presence with us, and we pray that you might be always present with those whom we love but see no longer. (Especially…)

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

Celebrant
Come among us O God, and hear our prayers; so that when your Son Jesus comes among us with great might, and in manger mild, we might recognize his face and his voice, and come to adore him. Amen.

star gazing – a reflection on Mark 13:24-37

November 17, 2011

by rick

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Eschatology / Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament

annunciation

The Annunciation. Carved in limestone, 1390AD. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Rick Morley.

The following is a reflection on Mark 13:24-37, the Gospel Lesson appointed for November 27th, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Hebrew Bible Lesson for the same day, and.
• a version of the Prayers of the People for the same day.

Really, we’ve lost Advent. Society at large doesn’t even consider “Advent,” if society at large has even heard of it. Society at large is shopping, and wrapping, and decking.

And, quite frankly, they’ve been doing those things to the tune of “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” piped above the din of the mall since Halloween. Read More

shattering skittishness – a reflection on Isaiah 64:1-9

November 12, 2011

by rick

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Eschatology / Lectionary / Major Prophets / Old Testament

shiny

Photo by Rick Morley, edited with Instagram.

The following is a reflection on Isaiah 64:1-9, the Hebrew Bible Lesson appointed for November 27th, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day, and
• a version of the Prayers of the People.

One of the cornerstones of my understanding of theology in general, and the human condition in particular, is that left to our own devices, we don’t mind approaching the Divine on our own terms, but we sure don’t want the Divine getting too close.

Like a cagey, skittish cat, we approach God…a little. Slowly. With constant suspicion. And at the slightest movement we scurry in the opposite direction. Read More

singing songs of abandon – a reflection on Psalm 100

November 9, 2011

by rick

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Lectionary / Old Testament

moon

The moon on a fall night. Photo by Rick Morley

The following is a reflection on Psalm 100, the psalm appointed for November 20th, 2011, Christ the King Sunday, Year A according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day.

The four verses which make up this little psalm, pack a punch.

And, because these four verses are so rich and deep, there are so many things that can be said about them.

But, one thing that speaks to me, these days, is the imploring to come before God.

Come before his presence with a song

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
go into his courts with praise

This great psalm calls upon us all—all lands—to approach God. We’re to come near.

And, we’re to come near with joy.

With a song.

sheepish – a reflection on Matthew 25:31-46

November 9, 2011

by rick

comments 8

Eschatology / Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Soteriology

Sheep

A glimpse into the sheep pen at the Billing's Farm in Woodstock Vermont, through a TTV filter. Picture by Rick Morley.

The following is a reflection on Matthew 25:31-46, the Gospel lesson appointed for November 20th, 2011, Christ the King Sunday, Year A according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Psalm for the same day.

Jesus talks about salvation in different contexts to different audiences and in different ways throughout the Gospels.

Sometimes he’s pretty cryptic. Sometimes he’s a little clearer. Sometimes he speaks in parables and stories. But, nowhere else does Jesus so explicitly tell us who’s going to Heaven and who’s going to Hell like he does in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew.

In Matthew 25, there’s that theme of separation again. Jesus divides humanity into two teams: the sheep and the goats. The sheep go to his “right hand,” are declared “blessed” by their Father, and “inherit the kingdom prepared for them since the foundation of the world.”

When it is all said and done, they go into “eternal life.”

The “goats” on the other hand, aren’t quite as fortunate. They go to his “left hand,” are declared “accursed,” and are relegated to “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” for an eternity of “punishment.”

Stop and ask yourself, which team would you prefer to be on? I think Jesus makes this choice a pretty easy one.

Now, how do we get on the sheep team? How do we get picked for sheep duty? Well, the Good News is that Jesus tells us in detail.

good and faithful – a reflection on Matthew 25:14-30

November 2, 2011

by rick

comments 4

Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament

Old Cadet's Chapel

The Old Cadet's Chapel at the United States Military Academy, at West Point. Photo by Rick Morley.

The following is a reflection on Matthew 25:14-30, the Gospel lesson appointed for November 13th, 2011, Proper 28, Year A according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Hebrew Bible lesson for the same day.

The NRSV, which I reflexively use for sermon prep (along with the ESV), unfortunately gets this text wrong—or at the least it obscures it’s meaning by translating “pistos” as “trustworthy.”

Now, before all you Koine-Greek scholars jump on me, and tell me that “trustworthy” is a perfectly fine translation of “pistos,” I agree with you. It is.

Except that English-only readers miss that over and over again in the New Testament “pistos” means faith.

And, unless your congregation is one full of Boy Scouts, “trustworthiness” isn’t the foundation of the Gospel. But…”faith” is.

And that’s what Jesus is really talking about here, folks. Faith. Read More

women’s parts – a reflection on Judges 4:1-7

November 1, 2011

by rick

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Historical Books / Lectionary / Old Testament

Canova Venus

Antonio Canova's, "Venus." From the collection of the MMA. Photo by Rick Morley.

The following is a reflection on Judges 4:1-7, the Hebrew Bible lesson appointed for November 13th, 2011, Proper 28, Year A according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many heroines in the Bible. Don’t get me wrong–there are some great ones, for sure. However, the cast of characters in the Bible is largely a male dominated cast.

Because of this, when we have a named-woman in a position of prominence there is a tendency to make her a big deal–and usually the big deal is that she’s a woman to begin with.

Deborah is one of these characters. In the canon of the Hebrew Bible, she’s a big name. She’s a judge of Israel. She makes decisions for a nation, and in Judges chapter four, she serves as an intermediary for God, and gives military instructions to Barak. In the fifth chapter, she breaks out in song, singing one of the most important songs of victory in the Bible.

And, I think all of that needs to be recognized, learned, and celebrated. She should be a name that we know, and a character that we pass on to younger generations when we tell the great tale of the Bible. Read More

litany for all saint’s day

October 24, 2011

by rick

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Prayers of the People

The following is a litany for use on All Saint’s Day. It is designed to be used at the beginning of a service of Eucharist, and concludes with the Collect of the Day. However, it could certainly be adapted to use at a later point in the service. If your community has a patron saint who is not listed, it would be quite appropriate to add the patron to one of the petitions, or craft an additional petition. The litany was written with the Great Litany in mind, and therefore if a community wanted to chant it, the setting of the Great Litany could easily be used.

On this site there is also
• a reflection on the New Testament Lesson for All Saint’s Day Year A, and
• a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for All Saint’s Day Year A.

O God, our mighty tower, and creator of Heaven and Earth,
Have mercy upon us.

O God, our Redeemer, who died and rose again,
Have mercy upon us.

O God, our comforter, who fell as a dove at the Baptism of Jesus, and strengthens all the faithful,
Have mercy upon us.

Holy Trinity, undivided, One God,
Have mercy upon us.

By the creation of Adam and Eve out of the dust of the ground, the forming of them in your holy image, and breathing into them your sacred breath,
Have mercy upon us.

By the calling forth of Noah and his family, the gathering together of the creatures of the earth, and the gift of the covenant as a bow in the sky,
Have mercy upon us.

By the blessing and sending of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, and the matriarchs and patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel,
Have mercy upon us.

By the call of Moses at the burning bush, the liberation of the children of Israel from Pharaoh’s hand, and the renting of the Sea,
Have mercy upon us.

By the witness and courage of your holy prophets of old; Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Micah, Habakkuk; and all those who called your people to faithfulness of living and justice for the poor and vulnerable,
Have mercy upon us.