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Matthew 20:1-16 - Lectionary for Pentecost 16A

9/21/2017

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9/21/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Gospel reading for this week is from Matthew 20:1-16. It’s the well known parable of the laborers. In this parable, the master hires day laborers first thing in the morning. He goes out later and hires more people who weren’t there at first. He does this again several times. Eventually, the last people he hires are brought to work near the end of the work day.

Every laborer receives the same pay. There is no distinction in the reward, though there are differences in the work. Those hired first are upset because they think their work is worth more than the work of the people who came on near the end of the day. But the master persists. He is generous, paying what was agreed upon to those who he first hired, and treating the others kindly.

It would be easy to take away an attitude that says we don’t need to enter into the Christian life with any urgency. After all, the master comes back again and again. However, we notice that the people hired in each instance were those who were not present before. it appears they each received only one chance.

It would be easy to suggest that the kingdom of God is a place where it doesn’t matter how hard you work. However, the master expected and received honest work from all of his employees. They simply labored for different amounts of time.

What is a reasonable interpretation? Whenever God’s call comes to us, we accept it. He has plans for us and will reward us. We do what he has given us to do. We have a living expectation that he will in fact care for us and use us for the good of his kingdom. God calls each one of us to work in his field. Whether our job is great or small, our time long or short, it is valuable in his sight.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30 - Lectionary for Pentecost 16A

9/20/2017

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9/20/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

In our Epistle reading for this week, from Philippians chapter 1, the apostle Paul is in prison. Sadly, this is not an unusual situation for him. In the Book of Acts, Paul seems to spend a good bit of time recovering from assault, being imprisoned, or otherwise being detained somewhere.

Although I said it was a common situation “sadly,” Paul doesn’t seem to view it that way. Certainly he didn’t enjoy being locked up in prison. There are things any of us would rather do than receive a beating or have stones thrown at us. Yet Paul seemed to take it in stride.

Behind this attitude of confidence and steadfastness in suffering is a powerful reason. Paul says he is all right with suffering because it is allowing him to be present for those around him. The Gospel is being proclaimed. His guards and other people are seeing the way he lives as a servant of Christ. He hopes to be released from prison and have opportunity to serve the Christian communities wherever he can go.

Would it be better for Paul if he were to die and be with Christ? It certainly would. However, Paul will accept his imprisonment and torture so as to be available to his Christian brothers and sisters. There will come a time when he will die and be with Christ. But for now, he is content to be of assistance in this earth.

This was, after all, the mind of Christ. He laid down heavenly glory to come for our benefit, living and dying on our behalf. May the Lord give us the same mind, that we would live for our neighbor so long as we live on this earth, and then we would live for God in eternity.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Isaiah 55:6-9 - Lectionary for Pentecost 16A

9/19/2017

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9/19/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Old Testament reading this week is from Isaiah 55:6-9. Here the prophet draws a sharp distinction. There are thoughts that God’s people have. Those are held in stark contrast to the thoughts of God. We have our human ways, God has his divine ways. They couldn’t be more different from each other.

When we read a passage like this we may easily feel offended. After all, we think we have some good ideas. We like our thoughts. Some of them seem pretty ingenious, very relevant, appropriate to the situations we’re in.

The question the Bible would ask us is whether we are seeing the world rightly. When we look at the world, according to Genesis chapter 3, we will see it through the lens of our sin. We may try, and try very hard. Sometimes we do pretty well. But we are still fallen creatures looking at a very complex and fallen world. Are we going to interpret it correctly? Sadly, we won’t. Yes, sometimes we do pretty well. But it isn’t really reliable.

The good news in our reading is that God doesn’t leave us to wander around in the dark, aimlessly bumping into furniture and falling down stairs. He calls us to come to him, to trust him, to receive his forgiveness. Then, and only then, will we realize that we can’t afford to depend on our own thoughts. Then we can turn to him and think his thoughts.

May we have the mind of Christ.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Psalm 27:1-9 - Lectionary for Pentecost 16A

9/18/2017

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9/18/17
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Among the forms of Christian-bashing popular in the last few hundred years, probably the one engaged in with the most zeal runs this way. “Christians are a bunch of weakling idiots who need a crutch. They want to bury their heads in the sane and hide because they can’t handle life in a real world.” Psalm 27:1-9 brings a powerful answer to this critique. What does it say? It says the Christian needs to seek refuge because the world is genuinely dangerous. When there are enemies who would bring harm, we all need a place of protection and safety.

Isn’t this true? Think of the firefighter in a flame retardant, insulated suit with a breather mask and a tank of oxygen. Do we really think it’s a sign of weakness to admit that the firefighter avoids going into high temperatures and threat of  asphyxiation without protective gear? Not at all. Think of a soldier entering battle. It is not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom that the soldier is armed, armored, and has an effective means of communication and escape if possible.

How much more important is it, in matters of eternal life and death, that we engage with reality in a wise way? Our world is full of adversaries. We can’t expect to be immune to them. Therefore, we take the protection of the God of all, who has promised to keep his people safe. This is not foolishness. In fact, it would be the most foolish thing of all to attempt life entirely on our own.

What does the Christian do with his security? He revels in the presence of God who is over all. He worships God according to God’s revealed word. He looks to God to keep all his promises. Again, this is wisdom. It’s part of knowing our place in the world, our role in the greater scheme of things. The same God who promises to care for all his creation by his mighty hand will be good to his word. That’s the track record we can see from the past. That’s what every reasonable expectation for the future should be. We can find refuge and safety in God’s promises revealed in the Scripture.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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