Today's Scripture Readings
Daniel 12: 1-3 (NRSV)
Psalm 16 (BCP., p.599-600)
Hebrews 10: 11-25 (NRSV)
Mark 13: 1-8 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
The reading from Daniel records what was taking place during the period when the Hellenization by the Jews in Palestine. They were enduring oppression of not only their land and culture, but also the practice of their religion. The Seleucid kings dominated the Jews by not allowing them to worship in their temples or synagogues as the Lord, their God had commanded them. It was believed that the Archangel Michael would come to their rescue them by striking down those who were oppressing them, so that they would regain what they had lost. The victory to be gained was not only a restoration of justice for all who lived, but the promise of new life for those who already died.
There are a couple things we must be very careful of when applying this to the society and Church of our time.
1. We should not look upon the Jews as deserving of the treatment they got. No religion or group of people brings upon themselves the destruction of their land or religion because God punishes them. Therefore, it is inappropriate to take an attitude of antisemitism, Islamophobia, or look down upon Atheists or Pagans.
2. We should also not use this as a means to uphold our own self-righteousness to promote only our religious or social point of view.
What we can take from this that is very applicable to us, is an opportunity of faith. Evil, oppression, violence, abuse etc, is something that God cares very much about. Though it may appear to us that God is not concerned with what is going on in the world, God is very much interacting withe progression of human history. God is "not standing afar off and hidden your face from us" as we pray in Psalm 10. When things are happening in our own communities, churches, families and around the world that we become aware of, that awareness is God speaking to our hearts. God is calling on us to be in prayer for those experiencing injustice, poverty and sickness, and moving on our hearts to take an interest in the welfare of others. The message of the Gospel is for us, yes. But, it's impact does not, nor should it stop with us. The work of living and sharing our faith through interceding and working on behalf of others, is how God works to end inequality and exploitation.
As for us Christians, the hope of redemption was accomplished because of Jesus Christ. Through our common Baptism, we have shared in the death and resurrection of Christ (see Romans 6). The Paschal Mystery happened so that Christians could look to Jesus as our Savior, who destroyed our slavery to sin. We no longer have to accept religious based discrimination, when Christians use the Bible to promote and act on bias. Christ changed our world by being God's perfect revelation and showing us how to reach out and become an inclusive community for God. God's saving work through Christ our Redeemer, found a way to include us in the Body of Christ. We should be accepting others so that God can also incorporate them among God's beloved people.
The Gospel reading is one that gets so abused by preachers trying to scare people to prepare for the second coming of Christ. Yet, two weeks from today it will already be Advent, the season to prepare for the coming of the Reign of Christ, as we move towards celebrating Christmas. What is the significance of this Gospel on the second coming?
On one hand, this reading is not about the second coming. Jesus is predicting the invasion and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE by the Roman General Silva. It is believed that the writer of Mark would have been in Syria between 60-70 CE and would have recorded events as they were told to the author. The destruction of Jerusalem would have appeared like a second coming to the early Christians, and to the Jews of that time it would have been very apocalyptic. It is quite possible that these are not the words of Jesus as they were said, but, recorded as such for their dramatic emphasis as to what Christians need to be doing.
On the other hand, this Gospel should certainly help us to think about what our priorities are as disciples of Christ. If our priorities are waiting around for every war or rumor of war to start so we can scare the whole world into thinking Christ is coming, to convert everyone, we are wasted precious time and missing valuable opportunities.
I remember back in 1991 when the first Gulf War began. I was a student at Eastern Nazarene College studying Church Music and organ. The days and weeks following the initial attack of the United States on Bagdad, Iraq, I found myself staring at more books in the student book shop about Iraq being the location of former Babylon and the possibility that it was the last war on earth before Christ returned. In those books there were countless claims that everything from abortion, to homosexuality and the secularization of our culture was why the war was started. I also heard some claim that the war was the punishment of God upon a country where Islam was the religion of that nation.
The days and weeks after September 11, 2001 we heard of a few preachers say that the attacks happened because of the wide acceptance of women as ordained clergy in certain denominations, abortions and homosexuality. Because there was a take over of the secularization of our culture from what was a "Christian nation" God punished America with the terrorist attacks that killed over 3,000 Americans.
Both of these are examples of what I call, Christians wasting their time on nonsense and useless fear tactics, while the real work of the Gospel remains unfinished.
What Jesus is calling those who follow him to do, is to use the time we have to establish God's Reign. We are to work to end injustice, oppression, violence and care for those less fortunate than ourselves, because God is present in all human beings. Especially those who suffer and are in need of a better today. An improved life today, so that they may have some kind of future where their human dignity is recognized and defended. To end the exploitation of people for the benefit of the powerful and wealthy. A place where working for peace with and for everyone is more important than making peace with oppression. Where we address issues like the bullying of LGBT youth and single mothers.
Today, while we have so much going on around us that suggests discrimination and attitudes of self-righteousness, Jesus calls us in humility to recognize who God is, and who we are not. We are not God, but we are redeemed by God in Christ. In thanksgiving and good stewardship, we have the privilege and responsibility to use what God has given us to benefit not only ourselves, but others who remain vulnerable and helpless on their own.
May our week of Thanksgiving bring us closer to recognizing Christ in one another, and doing all we can to honor Christ in those who are in need of love, compassion and our generosity.
Amen.
Prayers
Daniel 12: 1-3 (NRSV)
The Lord spoke to Daniel in a vision and said, "At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."
Psalm 16 (BCP., p.599-600)
Hebrews 10: 11-25 (NRSV)
Every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God," and since then has been waiting "until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet." For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. [And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
"This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds,"
he also adds,
"I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.]
Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Mark 13: 1-8 (NRSV)
As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?" Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, `I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs."
Blog Reflection
The reading from Daniel records what was taking place during the period when the Hellenization by the Jews in Palestine. They were enduring oppression of not only their land and culture, but also the practice of their religion. The Seleucid kings dominated the Jews by not allowing them to worship in their temples or synagogues as the Lord, their God had commanded them. It was believed that the Archangel Michael would come to their rescue them by striking down those who were oppressing them, so that they would regain what they had lost. The victory to be gained was not only a restoration of justice for all who lived, but the promise of new life for those who already died.
There are a couple things we must be very careful of when applying this to the society and Church of our time.
1. We should not look upon the Jews as deserving of the treatment they got. No religion or group of people brings upon themselves the destruction of their land or religion because God punishes them. Therefore, it is inappropriate to take an attitude of antisemitism, Islamophobia, or look down upon Atheists or Pagans.
2. We should also not use this as a means to uphold our own self-righteousness to promote only our religious or social point of view.
What we can take from this that is very applicable to us, is an opportunity of faith. Evil, oppression, violence, abuse etc, is something that God cares very much about. Though it may appear to us that God is not concerned with what is going on in the world, God is very much interacting withe progression of human history. God is "not standing afar off and hidden your face from us" as we pray in Psalm 10. When things are happening in our own communities, churches, families and around the world that we become aware of, that awareness is God speaking to our hearts. God is calling on us to be in prayer for those experiencing injustice, poverty and sickness, and moving on our hearts to take an interest in the welfare of others. The message of the Gospel is for us, yes. But, it's impact does not, nor should it stop with us. The work of living and sharing our faith through interceding and working on behalf of others, is how God works to end inequality and exploitation.
As for us Christians, the hope of redemption was accomplished because of Jesus Christ. Through our common Baptism, we have shared in the death and resurrection of Christ (see Romans 6). The Paschal Mystery happened so that Christians could look to Jesus as our Savior, who destroyed our slavery to sin. We no longer have to accept religious based discrimination, when Christians use the Bible to promote and act on bias. Christ changed our world by being God's perfect revelation and showing us how to reach out and become an inclusive community for God. God's saving work through Christ our Redeemer, found a way to include us in the Body of Christ. We should be accepting others so that God can also incorporate them among God's beloved people.
The Gospel reading is one that gets so abused by preachers trying to scare people to prepare for the second coming of Christ. Yet, two weeks from today it will already be Advent, the season to prepare for the coming of the Reign of Christ, as we move towards celebrating Christmas. What is the significance of this Gospel on the second coming?
On one hand, this reading is not about the second coming. Jesus is predicting the invasion and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE by the Roman General Silva. It is believed that the writer of Mark would have been in Syria between 60-70 CE and would have recorded events as they were told to the author. The destruction of Jerusalem would have appeared like a second coming to the early Christians, and to the Jews of that time it would have been very apocalyptic. It is quite possible that these are not the words of Jesus as they were said, but, recorded as such for their dramatic emphasis as to what Christians need to be doing.
On the other hand, this Gospel should certainly help us to think about what our priorities are as disciples of Christ. If our priorities are waiting around for every war or rumor of war to start so we can scare the whole world into thinking Christ is coming, to convert everyone, we are wasted precious time and missing valuable opportunities.
I remember back in 1991 when the first Gulf War began. I was a student at Eastern Nazarene College studying Church Music and organ. The days and weeks following the initial attack of the United States on Bagdad, Iraq, I found myself staring at more books in the student book shop about Iraq being the location of former Babylon and the possibility that it was the last war on earth before Christ returned. In those books there were countless claims that everything from abortion, to homosexuality and the secularization of our culture was why the war was started. I also heard some claim that the war was the punishment of God upon a country where Islam was the religion of that nation.
The days and weeks after September 11, 2001 we heard of a few preachers say that the attacks happened because of the wide acceptance of women as ordained clergy in certain denominations, abortions and homosexuality. Because there was a take over of the secularization of our culture from what was a "Christian nation" God punished America with the terrorist attacks that killed over 3,000 Americans.
Both of these are examples of what I call, Christians wasting their time on nonsense and useless fear tactics, while the real work of the Gospel remains unfinished.
What Jesus is calling those who follow him to do, is to use the time we have to establish God's Reign. We are to work to end injustice, oppression, violence and care for those less fortunate than ourselves, because God is present in all human beings. Especially those who suffer and are in need of a better today. An improved life today, so that they may have some kind of future where their human dignity is recognized and defended. To end the exploitation of people for the benefit of the powerful and wealthy. A place where working for peace with and for everyone is more important than making peace with oppression. Where we address issues like the bullying of LGBT youth and single mothers.
Today, while we have so much going on around us that suggests discrimination and attitudes of self-righteousness, Jesus calls us in humility to recognize who God is, and who we are not. We are not God, but we are redeemed by God in Christ. In thanksgiving and good stewardship, we have the privilege and responsibility to use what God has given us to benefit not only ourselves, but others who remain vulnerable and helpless on their own.
May our week of Thanksgiving bring us closer to recognizing Christ in one another, and doing all we can to honor Christ in those who are in need of love, compassion and our generosity.
Amen.
Prayers
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for
our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn,
and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever
hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have
given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 28, Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).
Gracious Father, we pray for they holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).
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