Rev-o-lution

Revised Common Lectionary: Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 116:1-9; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38

Narrative Lectionary: Creation by the Word, Genesis 1:1-2:4a (John 1:1-5)

The first selection of the Hebrew Scriptures continues the theme of Wisdom Literature, in this second half of the season after Pentecost. In Proverbs, Wisdom is personified as a woman, one who calls out to the people from the crossroads and city square, where the people are going about their daily lives. She calls to them to turn to her voice, to turn to God’s ways. But the people have refused to listen as they live, moving from one thing to the next, so she mocks them and laughs. The people had the opportunity to listen and follow God’s ways, but they refused, and in their time of need, God’s wisdom and knowledge will be hard to come by. Pay attention and seek wisdom now, in this moment.

Psalm 19 is a song of praise for God as creator, and also for God as the giver of the law to the people. In verses 1-6, creation itself is a witness to God’s works of wonder, the sun at sunrise like a bridegroom emerging from his tent. Nothing is hidden from the glory of God in creation. In verses 7-14, the psalmist praises God’s instruction, laws, and commandments, which revive the people. These are necessary to life, and the psalmist sings for joy. The psalmist concludes with a prayer seeking to be cleansed of hidden faults, anything that might lead them astray from God, and prays that their prayer will be acceptable to God.

Isaiah 50:4-9a is one of the Suffering Servant passages, where the people of Israel who have suffered are personified through the voice of the prophet. God has taught through the prophet, who did not resist the suffering, personifying the people who suffered together. The prophet has been vindicated and restored, as the people have been vindicated in their return from exile. God did not cause the suffering that the people endured, but God is the one who saw them through and has redeemed them.

The psalmist praises God for deliverance in Psalm 116:1-9. God heard the voice of the psalmist crying out, and the psalmist loves God, for God has delivered them from suffering and death. God is merciful, protecting those in need, and brings peace and rest to the faithful. The psalmist is grateful to be alive, knowing God is with them.

The Epistle reading continues in James with 3:1-12. In this chapter, James warns about the dangers of what we say, that in teaching and speaking, we cannot take back what is said once it is out there. Like a rudder of a ship or a bit in a horse’s mouth, the tongue directs how others perceive us. From our words come blessings and curses, and what we say can cause great harm or can instruct others in the way of God. The tongue cannot be tamed. Instead, we must be cautious about what we say. We will be judged, as a spring that yields water—if it is brackish, it will not be trusted to produce freshwater.

Mark 8:27-38 is the pivotal point in Mark’s gospel account. Until this point, Mark has focused on the ministry and teaching of Jesus. Now, Jesus turns to face Jerusalem, and begins to speak about his betrayal, arrest, and death. Jesus asks the disciples who the people say he is, and then he asks them specifically who they think he is. Peter responds that Jesus is the Messiah. However, when Jesus tells them what the Messiah must go through, Peter pulls him aside and rebukes him. Peter’s understanding of the Messiah does not mesh with Jesus’ understanding of what he must do. Jesus in turn rebukes Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan!” for Peter doesn’t understand that his protest is undermining Jesus. Jesus tells the disciples and the crowd that if they want to be his followers, they must take up their cross and follow him. There was a cost to following Jesus that they hadn’t understood to this point. Not everyone would accept Jesus as they had, and as he turned toward Jerusalem, opposition would grow, until Jesus’ own death on the cross.

The Narrative Lectionary moves into year four of its cycle, beginning with the story of Creation in Genesis 1:1-2:4a. This priestly writing explains the order of creation, culminating in the creation of the sabbath day, a holy day of rest. As God rested from making all things, so all things must rest. All things were created good and with purpose and order.

John 1:1-5 is the poetic beginning to the Gospel according to John, placing the Word (Jesus) at the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him, not one thing came to be. His life is the light of all the people, a light that shines in the darkness, and is not overcome. Echoing the language of creation, the gospel writer weaves Jesus’ narrative into the fabric of our creation story.

In the United States, this Sunday is often the Sunday of new beginnings in the life of the church, the Sunday after Labor Day. A mini “New Year’s Day” of sorts sometimes called Rally Day or Homecoming Day. The scriptures point to restarting, to listening for the wisdom of God in our daily lives. Jesus teaches the disciples that up until this point, they have understood his ministry as healing and teaching. Now, they must understand that he came to give his life, and that they must also deny themselves and take up their cross. The Narrative Lectionary focuses on this new beginning by going to the very beginning of creation. Today is a fresh start. Today is a new day, a new week. New ministries may be starting, Sunday school may be resuming. Autumn is around the corner, along with harvest time. What newness is stirring in you, in your community, in your faith journey?

Call to Worship (from Psalm 19:1-2, 5)
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
And the heavens proclaim God’s handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night declares knowledge.
The sun rises like one ready for a wedding,
And God makes the sun set in deep joy.
God is the creator of all things!
Come, worship God, who made us all.

Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Holy One, we confess that we aren’t ready for a new start just yet. We still haven’t processed what we’ve been through. We want to move forward, and yet, we’re stuck trying to make meaning of this past year. Hold us gently in Your embrace. Speak peace to our hearts and ease our minds. Help us to let go of the need to find meaning in the tragic. Instead, help us to move forward in courage because we are not alone. Guide us in Your ways of love, to be brave and bold in compassion and empathy. Lead us in Your ways of justice, to be humble and remember to step back to center voices that have not been heard. Call to us when we are afraid and lonely, and make Your presence known to us. In the name of Jesus, our companion now and always, we pray. Amen.

Blessing/Assurance
God will not let you go. There is no place you can be lost, nowhere so deep and dark that light cannot shine in the shadows. God loves you madly, and God is with you. Breathe, and know the Spirit is alive in you. Love, and know that you are loved by God. Live, and know that Christ lives in you. As Christ has died, Christ has also risen, and death will never have the final word. Go forth with this knowledge, wisdom, and insight: God’s steadfast love endures forever. You are forgiven, loved, and restored. Amen.

Prayer
Creator God, You made the earth and the universe as a testimony to You. How can we contemplate our own short lives among the vastness of the galaxies? Of all the stars born, we know only one better than the others. Of all the planets formed, we have only touched one. We are in awe of You, Almighty One, maker of us all. Help us to never lose that sense of wonder and amazement, for that is the beginning of wisdom. Remind us, when our daily lives drag our gaze to what is in front of us, to expand our view to what is beyond us. For You are the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all things. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Psalm 125; Isaiah 35:4-7a; Psalm 146; James 2:1-10 (11-13), 14-17; Mark 7:24-37

Narrative Lectionary: Series on Sacraments—Mutual Consolation of the Saints, Matthew 18:15-20, or Series on Revelation, 21:1-6, 22:1-5 (John 16:20-22)

The first selection of the Hebrew scriptures has turned to Wisdom literature, in the second half of this season after Pentecost. This selection from Proverbs contains sayings about injustice and poverty. God has made us all, and yet, God hears the cries of the poor and pleads their case. God calls for justice and warns those who seek their own gain. Instead, the proverbs teach that those who are generous, especially to those in need, are blessed.

Psalm 125 is a song of praise for God. Those who put their trust in God are on a firm foundation, safe with God in the way Jerusalem is safe because of the mountains that surround the city. The psalmist calls out to God to “do good to the people who are good.” To do the right thing for those who live in righteousness, and lead those in wickedness away so they cannot cause harm.

The second selection of the Hebrew scriptures prophesies God’s restorative works in Isaiah 35:4-7a. The prophet speaks of God’s return to a people who have suffered and are afraid. God will restore what has been taken, what has been broken. The prophet uses the images of those disabled, the blind having their sight restored, the lame leaping for joy, etc. in a way that we must be cautious of repeating, for our understanding of disability has changed greatly since the time this was written. Instead, looking to the images of streams in the desert, the burning sand becoming a pool—the overall theme is about restoring, returning to its intended state. Teachers and preachers would do well to focus on the natural landscape themes and think of restoration as ramps and walkways, accessibility for those whose access has been denied. This is what it means to restore to the reign of God.

Psalm 146 is a song of praise to God who rules over all and executes justice. The psalmist reminds the people not to put their trust in worldly rulers. They will not last, and they will not help all the people. God is the one who reigns eternally, who made heaven and earth and all of creation. God knows the oppressed and works for their release from prison and systems of oppression. God upholds the marginalized and will reign forever.

The Epistle readings continue in the letter of James with chapter 2. The writer chastises the favoritism he has seen play out in the early church, where people still seek out the wealthy rather than helping the poor in need among them. God sees through their actions—they cannot hide. The rich are the ones who oppress them, and yet the people still work to please the wealthy instead of looking to the ones most in need. To love one’s neighbor as one’s self is the hallmark of faith in James’ view, and faith without works is dead.

Jesus encounters two people in need in Mark 7:24-37. Jesus entered a house in the region of Tyre and didn’t want anyone to know he was there, but a Syrophoenician woman heard that Jesus was there and came to find him, to beg him to cast the demon out of her daughter. Jesus was rather harsh with her, telling her it wasn’t fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs. Basically telling her she wasn’t worthy. But she insisted that even the dogs get the crumbs from the table. Jesus is confronted by her faith and tells her the demon has left her daughter. From there, Jesus traveled to the Decapolis, and a deaf man who had a speech impediment was brought to him. The people who brought him begged Jesus to lay his hands on him, so he took him to a private place, touched his ears, and spat and touched his tongue. The scripture says that Jesus sighed, looked to heaven, and said, “Be opened.” The man immediately was able to hear and speak. Jesus was challenged by the foreign woman to see her humanity in a moment when he thought her unworthy—and he changed his mind. Jesus was sent not only to the people of Israel, but to all people, to bring healing and restoration, as he did for the man who struggled with speech and hearing—restoring him in a manner that in his day would allow him to participate fully in society.

The Narrative Lectionary has two series choices for the remainder of the summer—a series on Sacraments, and a series on Revelation. I am using the same resources I did four years ago, from September 3rd, 2017, in the archives, for the series on Revelation. Because the Narrative Lectionary has added a fifth week for this series this year, the resources for this week’s lesson on Sacraments is new.

Sacramental language is not something I am familiar with in my tradition as a Baptist (we use the term Ordinances instead and have only two: The Lord’s Supper and Baptism). This series on Sacraments, ending with Mutual Consolation of the Saints, focuses on Matthew 18:15-20, in how we ought to live together as faithful people. When there is a question of wrongdoing, the person wronged is to address it directly at first if possible. If that doesn’t work, they are to follow what Deuteronomy 19:15 teaches, to take two or three witnesses for support and to help settle the matter. However, if the offender still will not accept responsibility, it becomes a communal manner. The words of Jesus are difficult to understand: to treat one as a gentile and tax collector would, in their culture and time, mean to have nothing to do with them. However, Jesus has taught and lived by example in the exact opposite way, to continue to love and accept others. Instead of being a prescriptive how-to action plan when there is conflict, it appears Jesus is calling the community to use its best tools and resources toward healing and restoration. At times, that may call for separating from those who are abusive and holding boundaries. At other times, it may call for more understanding and communal care. Jesus is with us as we struggle in how to be the community of Jesus here on earth.

The second Narrative Lectionary series completes Revelation with chapters 21 and 22, the vision of the new heaven and the new earth. There is no more mourning or grief, for the Lamb has made all things new. The new city has the river of life flowing from the throne, and there is no more death, no more night, and those that live will live in light forever. There is healing of the nations. There is hope. There is peace.

Jesus compares his death and resurrection with childbirth in John 16:20-22. There is pain, and there will be grief, but there will be great rejoicing in the resurrection. The disciples will grieve, but then they will rejoice, if they remember that this is only temporary. Jesus is fond of the image of labor and birth (see John 3) as symbolic of what we go through in death to eternal life.

We know what we have been taught through Scripture and the traditions passed down to us; however, living out our faith is much more difficult. Even Jesus, at times, struggled with what he believed he was supposed to do, and the needs of the people before him. Throughout the scriptures, God shows us that the poor, the widow, the orphan, the foreigner—the people who are often marginalized, forgotten about, and excluded—are the ones God is concerned for. As a community of faith, we are challenged to look for those who are most in need, and they are often the ones who cannot give in return. Instead, we often act like the people James wrote about—turning to please the wealthy and those in power—the very ones who may oppress us. The very ones who benefit from the systems and structures of power and wealth in this world. Too often churches get caught up in trying to grow by numbers of people and numbers of dollars in the bank, instead of rejecting worldly measures of success and looking to the people most in need of a lived-out Gospel. We are called to live out our faith in the ways that God has shown us throughout the centuries. Otherwise, it’s as James said—our faith, our church, doesn’t mean anything.

Call to Worship (Psalm 146:1-2, 5-6)
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the LORD their God,
Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever.

Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
God of Eternal Life, we confess that we are short-sighted. We seek the gains that we can experience and know. We look for signs that prove to us right now an assurance of our future. We fail to view how You are at work in the world around us, through all times and seasons. We seek the short-term goals and pleasures that ease our fears, instead of trusting You and living into Your ways of deep empathy, compassion, and care for our earth and for one another. Forgive us for our selfishness. Help us to turn to Your ways, to put our trust in You, to know that though we may not experience the fulfillment of Your justice and reign while we breathe, it will come. We live for it now, and know that death does not have the final word, especially in the pursuit of justice and righteousness. For now, hold us to the path of mercy, love, and justice. Amen.

Blessing/Assurance
When we are consistent, when we do not let up in our pursuit of justice, when we put our trust in God, we will find our way. God’s assurance comes through the love, support, and encouragement of one another, so be encouragers. Show mercy and practice loving-kindness, so that others may also learn by experiencing. For this is how we live into God’s reign on earth. Go and share the good news of God’s love, forgiveness, and mercy. Amen.

Prayer
God of Peace, the world is fractured and brittle around us. What we once assumed was permanent has become temporary. The temporary has stretched much longer than anticipated. We live with so many unknowns, so many tragic circumstances in the world. Bring peace to us. Not a peace that is passive, that numbs us to the pain of the world, but a peace that is the quiet assurance You are still at work in our world and in our lives. Bring peace to us in the form of help and aid when we struggle with mental health. Bring peace to us when we are feeling lonely and detached, by helping us to learn new ways of being community. Bring peace to us when all we can view before us is destruction and despair, in that there are still those in the world who love, who practice and pursue justice, and they need us, and we need them. Prince of Peace, grant us peace in our hearts. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary: Song of Solomon 2:8-13; Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9; Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; Psalm 15; James 1:17-27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Narrative Lectionary: Series on Sacraments—Lord’s Supper, 1 Samuel 21:1-9; Mark 14:12-25 or Series on Revelation, 13:1-18 (John 12:30-32)

The first selection in the Hebrew scriptures shifts midway through this season, from following the rise of the kings of Israel with Saul, David and Solomon, into Wisdom literature, in which Solomon is seen as an author and figure of Wisdom. In Song of Solomon 2:8-13, this love song marks upon the beauty of springtime, the newness of life, and that the time is ripe for new love. Often viewed as a metaphor of God’s love for humanity, Wisdom literature reminds us that love, even the love shared between people, comes from God, is blessed by God, and should be celebrated.

Psalm 45 is a song of blessing for a king’s wedding. The first two verses address the king, showering upon praise and compliments, and verses 6-9 speak of God’s anointing and blessing of the king. God’s reign is everlasting, and God blesses the king of Israel, for he practices justice and righteousness and despises evil. The psalmist continues to compliment the king for his appearance and majesty on his wedding day.

As part of Moses’ final words to the people while they prepare to enter the land promised them, in Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9, Moses reminds the people to remember all that they were taught of the law, ordinances, and statutes of God. No other nation has a relationship with their god the way Israel has with God. The people are instructed to continue teaching their children and to future generations—to not forget what they have learned.

Psalm 15 is a short psalm, answering the question of who may enter the temple of God. The psalm lists out those who live in God’s ways, who do what is right, who do not take advantage of others but are honorable and trustworthy. All who live in righteousness may enter the temple because they will never falter.

The Epistle lesson begins a series in James. 1:17-27 speaks of pure religion—living into God’s ways and not the ways of the world. The writer instructs those receiving these words to be quick to listen but slow to speak. Part of Wisdom literature in the Christian scriptures, the author of James invites us to live into God’s ways, to shed anger and to turn instead to humility. We are called to live out the word, not just hear it, but to do it. To think we are religious and harm others with our words—that shows our religion is worthless, because it didn’t bring transformation. True religion cares for those who are marginalized and invites us into the life desires for us, where we listen before speaking, where we are humble before God and one another.

The Gospel lesson returns to Mark. In chapter 7, some of the religious leaders notice that some of Jesus’ disciples didn’t wash their hands before eating. This wasn’t for hygienic purposes, but a ritual washing to make sure nothing they touched became unclean before they ate it. Jesus saw this as hypocritical, that they were concerned about the ritual washing of hands rather than the things some religious leaders said and did that could cause harm to others. Jesus taught the crowds that it isn’t what goes in, what food that was touched that causes a person to become unclean, but rather how they live and what they say. Our actions and words reflect God’s word in our life, because what we say and do can cause harm to other people. Our rituals and traditions may help shape our lives, but the truth of God in our lives is lived out.

The Narrative Lectionary has two series choices for the remainder of the summer—a series on Sacraments, and a series on Revelation. I am using the same resources I did four years ago, from September 3rd, 2017, in the archives, for the series on Sacraments. Because the Narrative Lectionary has added a fifth week for this series this year, the resources for this week’s lesson on Revelation is new.

In 1 Samuel 21:1-9. David comes to the temple in secret, but the only bread for him and his men to eat is the Bread of Presence, reserved for the priests. David declares that he and his men have kept themselves holy (a way of saying they haven’t slept with women, which was a requirement to enter the temple) and the priest Ahimelech gives David the bread, and at the same time gives David the sword of Goliath to carry out the king’s mission.

Mark 14:12-25 contains Mark’s account of the Last Supper, during the Passover Meal when Jesus takes bread and breaks it, and the cup and pours it out, and says, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Jesus also uses this opportunity to declare that one of them, one of his own, will betray him. This must have disturbed the disciples, who thought they were coming to celebrate the Passover, not hear about Jesus’ body broken and blood shed, or his betrayal at the hands of one of them. They may have been shocked, horrified at what was happening, and perhaps some beginning to finally understand that the path to eternal life had to go through death.

Revelation 13:1-18 (which should begin with 12:18) speaks of the beast from the sea and the beast from the land in John of Patmos’ vision. The author draws from the book of Daniel in this vision to call out the empire—in Daniel’s day, the Greeks, and in John’s day, the Romans. In the Roman empire, Caesar was seen as a god on earth, and the people worshiped and lived in fear. The second beast is like the chaos monsters of myth and folklore in the ancient near East, also representing the empire. John equates these beasts with the rule of Satan on earth, the fear and oppression the people face. Those who worship Caesar and those who trust in the empire are really worshipers of evil and have given in to the power that is against what God stands for: love, justice, mercy, and righteousness.

In John 12:30-32, Jesus speaks of this world and the ruler of this world—the devil, the ways of evil—and the time had come for this world’s ruler to be thrown out and that Jesus, upon his resurrection and ascension, would draw the faithful of God to him.

As we begin this shift in the season after Pentecost, we delve into Wisdom literature in the Bible. Wisdom literature is rooted in the awe (sometimes translated as fear) of God—the knowledge that God is far beyond our understanding, whose very presence causes our hearts both to tremble and not be afraid. God has taught us through the commandments and ordinances our way of life, but it must become the way we live—not a set of rules, not a way to divide who is good or who is bad, but a way that our lives are rooted in. A way that seeks justice, practices compassion, listens more than speaks. A way that is true, where our words, actions, and values come together. The ways of the world tempt us to seek our own desires and power. Sometimes, even in our pursuit of Godliness we fall into a trap of exclusivism, a way of retaining power and privilege under the guise of religion. Wisdom teaches us that our lives must be lived out in inclusive love, especially for the marginalized and oppressed, and that we ourselves must not be tempted into the ways of empire—either externally, by worldly measures of success, or internally, by claiming exclusive rights to God’s love and ways. We must be radically inclusive and live humbly with our God.

Call to Worship
God is active in our world and in our lives,
We gather in awe of our God.
Christ calls us into the way of love and justice,
We gather to follow Jesus our Savior.
The Spirit moves us in compassion and kindness,
We gather as one people of God.
Come, join your hearts in worship,
And ponder the awesomeness of God.

Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Awesome God, we come before You confessing our sins. We confess that we have accepted the way of empire. We have accepted the silencing of marginal voices in our society as a given. We have not questioned the oppression of those who are different from us, and when we do question, we have not always sought their liberation. We have ignored the cries of those who are most in need. Almighty One, we know You hear their cries, and we hear Your voice calling us into accountability. You remind us of our responsibility to love our neighbor as ourselves. Help us to turn to You and away from empire, away from the ways of this world. Remind us that we live for Your heavenly reign, on earth as it is in heaven, and that what we do now matters far beyond us. Guide us into Your ways of love, justice, and mercy. Amen.

Blessing/Assurance
Those who turn from the world and turn back to God are forgiven. Those who strive to do better are forgiven. Those who seek to repair and heal in our broken world are forgiven. All of us, when we profess our faith in Christ, know the forgiveness of our God, because we feel the pull to engage in restoring what has been broken. Live into forgiveness with accountability. Love one another as Christ has loved you and go forth sharing the good news of our God in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer
Loving God, teach us to love not as the world loves. The world views love as a transaction, a give and take. Teach us to love in a way that heals. Teach us to love in a way that restores. Teach us to love in a way that repairs the brokenness of our world. Teach us to love in a way that does not seek repayment, but rather, teach us to love wholeheartedly, to see one another as truly made in Your image, as brothers, sisters, siblings of one another, connected to all of creation. In the name of Jesus, who laid down his life for us out of Your wondrous love, we pray. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary: 1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84; Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69

Narrative Lectionary: Sacraments—Lord’s Supper, Psalm 65 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, or Revelation: 6:1-8, 7:9-17 (John 14:1-4)

After King David’s death, King Solomon established worship in the temple in 1 Kings 8. Solomon remembered the covenant that God made with his father David and prayed for its renewal. He prayed for God’s presence to be in the temple, that when the people of Israel prayed toward the temple, God would hear their prayers. Solomon prayed that the temple itself would be a witness to others outside of Israel because they heard of God’s deeds and would be drawn from distant lands. This dedication for the temple not only establishes temple worship, but the role of prayer in Israelite worship life.

Psalm 84 is a song of praise for God’s temple. Mirroring heaven on earth, even the sparrows, the psalmist sings, will find a home there (and probably literally, birds made their nests in the open temple spaces). People who travel to the temple would find themselves in awe. The psalmist sings that there is no other place they’d rather be, for God blesses and does good works for those who are faithful.

In the second selection of the Hebrew scriptures, Joshua had led the people of Israel since Moses’ death, and Joshua called upon the people to make their choice to renew their commitment to God in 24:1-2a, 14-18. Joshua gave them the choice to serve the gods of other peoples, as their ancestors had once done, but Joshua and his family chose to serve the Lord their God, who delivered them from Egypt. The people renewed their commitment to God, for God had protected them and brought them to the land promised to their ancestors.

The second selection of the psalm concludes its three-week series with Psalm 34 with verses 15-22. God’s face is turned toward those who are faithful and who live in ways of righteousness and God’s face is turned from those who are wicked. God hears the cries of the faithful in their despair and dejection, and will deliver them, protect them, and care for them. God will hold accountable those who afflict the righteous and will save the faithful.

The Epistle series in Ephesians concludes with 6:10-20 (which was the Narrative Lectionary reading on August 1st). This metaphorical list of armor is all defensive, save for the Sword of the Spirit (the word of God). The rest of it is for proclaiming peace, abiding in God’s salvation and righteousness. This metaphor reminds the reader that the struggle is not against blood and flesh but the rulers and authorities and powers of the present time of evil. The author roots nonviolent protest as spiritual work, against the spiritual forces of evil: oppression, greed, marginalization—all the forces of empire. The author concludes with a call to prayer and a request for prayer while they are in prison, so they may speak boldly in faith.

The Gospel selection concludes its series in John on the Bread of Life in John 6:56-69. The first three verses overlap with last week’s selection. Jesus speaks of himself as the bread of life, and that to eat his flesh, to drink his blood, is to absorb all of Jesus into one’s life and find eternal life. Jesus’ disciples are worried that this message is too harsh (maybe too graphic) and that it’s hard to accept. Jesus teaches them that it is the Spirit that gives life, not worldly bread and drink, not the consumption of this world. Life is found in following Jesus, and the disciples, though questioning, know this. They know that Jesus is the Holy One sent by God, and that to know God, they have to absorb Jesus into their daily life.

The Narrative Lectionary has two series choices for the remainder of the summer—a series on Sacraments, and a series on Revelation. I am using the same resources I did four years ago, from August 27th, 2017 in the archives:

The Narrative Lectionary continues its series on the Sacraments and on Revelation. For the Lord’s Supper, the focus is Psalm 65. This call to worship God reminds the people that God is the one who performs awesome deeds of deliverance, and is all of our hope. God is the one who provides for all the earth, who forgives our transgressions, and God draws us near. Happy are those who are chosen by God to be with God.

Paul is displeased with the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. He has heard about the divisions within the church, but he is most disgusted by the divisions shown at the table for the Lord’s Supper, because they don’t really come together for this holy meal but to eat their own supper, to gorge on what they have had, to become drunk and enjoy themselves while others go hungry. This is not what the table is about. Instead, continuing from verse 23, Paul reminds the church that this is a meal of remembrance. This meal is to be taken reverently, and all need to examine themselves before coming to the table.

In the series on Revelation, from 6:1-8 and 7:9-17, the first four seals are opened, releasing the four horses associated with the apocalypse, bringing violence, hunger, famine, and pestilence upon the earth. But after the seals are opened, there is a great multitude that appear in John’s vision, no one can count them. They are of every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb and praising God. These are the ones who have come through the great ordeal, who have survived, and they come to praise God, and God will wipe away every tear from their eye. They will suffer no more. Throughout scripture, there is always a remnant that survives. There is always hope.

John 14:1-4 is part of Jesus’ final discourse to the disciples, in which he promises that he is going ahead of them to prepare a place for them. Jesus promises the disciples that they know the way to the place where Jesus is going. Have faith, do not let your hearts be troubled, Jesus tells the disciples, for there is room for all in the kingdom of God.

Taking on the metaphorical armor of God, being fed on spiritual food, the flesh and blood of Christ, is to absorb the way of Christ into our daily life. Solomon’s dedication of the temple proclaimed to the people that God was among them. The writer of Ephesians, the Gospel of John, teach us that the way to draw close to God is to live into God’s ways, to saturate God into our daily life, to take on this identity, inside and outside, as a follower of Jesus. God draws near to us, but Christ calls us to go fully into the life God intends for us, in righteousness, justice, and peace.

Call to Worship
Whether we gather our hearts at home or afar,
We are the church, the body of Christ.
Whether we are at home or in a building together,
We are in the house of God, for God is with us.
Whether we sing in the choir or pray under the trees,
We are at worship, for God is everywhere.
Come, join in worship, wherever you are,
For we are God’s people.

Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Holy One, we come before You to confess our divisions, the walls we have built, the lines we have drawn. We confess that we have determined with our human understanding who is just and who is not, who is loved and who is not, who is right and who is wrong. We have been exclusive in our love instead of inclusive in Your Gospel. Forgive us. Remind us that all of us are created in Your image. All of us are worthy of love. All of us have sinned, and all of us can participate in the work of reparation, restoration, and forgiveness. Call us as Your children, O God. Through Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Brother, our Redeemer, we pray. Amen.

Blessing/Assurance
No matter what boundaries and borders we have made, God transcends them all. God’s love knows no measure, no limit. There is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ. Know that you are forgiven, and called into the work of healing and hope, mercy and justice. Live into God’s ways, and know that Christ is with you. Amen.

Prayer
Deep calls to deep, O God, and You have given us hearts and minds to be open to Your love and to ponder the great mysteries. Guide us in our search for understanding. Keep us to Your ways of love, justice, and mercy. Hold us to Your commandments to love You and to love our neighbors. Throughout our lives, may we continue to draw closer to You, to know more of Your ways, and to also be in awe at the vastness of the universe You made that we will never fully understand. Lead us, Eternal One, through life and death and into the great mystery of eternity. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary: 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14; Psalm 111; Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34:9-14; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58

Narrative Lectionary: Series on Sacraments—Baptism, Psalm 84 and Romans 6:1-11, or Series on Revelation, 5:1-13 (John 1:29-31)

This is one of those occasions with the whole of the Revised Common Lectionary—both selections from the Hebrew scriptures in this season after Pentecost—follow the same them: seeking Wisdom.

Solomon, who became king after his father David’s long reign and death, asks God for wisdom in 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14. The writer makes it clear that Solomon was not perfect—he still held to some of the local worship practices of offering incense at “high places”—other altars—but Solomon turned to God, to draw close to God. Instead of wealth or power, he asked God for the ability to discern what was right. God was pleased with Solomon’s request, and granted him power and wealth because God knew Solomon would do what was right. As the saying from Spiderman goes, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and Solomon looked first to the weighty responsibility of being king before looking to all the benefits. He understood what his father David had lost, the violence that had torn his family apart, and sought to live and rule differently.

Psalm 111 is a song of praise to God for all of God’s wonderful works. God is always remembering the covenant made with the people, and God provides for the people’s daily needs. God is just and merciful. God’s work is righteous, and God lives out the covenant with the people. This psalm concludes with a saying found throughout wisdom literature in the Bible: “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Fear, in this sense, is the awe-inspired trembling of knowing God. Those who are in awe of God will not go astray from God’s ways.

The second selection from the Hebrew scriptures is of Woman Wisdom in Proverbs 9:1-6. The number seven was considered a lucky, fortunate, complete number, and Wisdom’s house is built on seven pillars—a strong foundation. Personified as a woman, God’s Wisdom has set the table for the wise to seek her, a table that will nourish. She calls out to the people to abandon the foolish ways of living in this world, and to truly live in the way of understanding, to know God.

Continuing in Psalm 34 from last week, the second psalm selection this week focuses on verses 9-14. This portion leans heavily into seeking Wisdom, the fear/awe of God, and that those who do will lack nothing. Living into God’s ways—turning away from evil, and pursuing peace—this is the way of life, the way of Wisdom.

The Epistle reading continues in Ephesians with 5:15-20. The writer calls upon the people to make “the most of the time.” Live into God’s ways, instead of the ways of the world that are full of fleeing pleasures. Seek to be filled with the Spirit, and turn to God in praise and joy, rather than the “spirits” of this world. Turn your life into a way of thanksgiving to God, for this is making the most of our days.

The Gospel lesson on Jesus as the Bread of Life continues in John 6, repeating verse 51 from last week’s selection, and continuing through verse 58, on the theme of Jesus as the Bread of Life. The religious leaders and crowds who have gathered do not understand what Jesus is saying, taking him literally about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. In the line of Wisdom literature, to eat and drink of Christ is to rely on Christ for one’s daily life, to understand that one’s daily needs are met when living into God’s ways. The way of Christ will lead to eternal life, new life that begins now and that death has no hold over.

The Narrative Lectionary has two series choices for the remainder of the summer—a series on Sacraments, and a series on Revelation. I am using the same resources I did four years ago, from August 20th, 2017 in the archives:

The Narrative Lectionary continues with two selections for the last month of the summer: Sacraments and Revelation. Psalm 84 declares how wonderful the home of God is, and how the psalmist longs to dwell there. Even one day would be better than a thousand elsewhere. Happy are those who find their home with God.

When we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into Christ’s death, as Paul declares in Romans 6:1-11. And so, we are also raised with Christ. Our old self is crucified with Christ, put to death, so that sin and death no longer have a hold on us. Jesus died to sin once for all, and now he lives for God, as do we.

In John’s Revelation, during his heavenly vision in 5:1-13 there is a scroll with seven seals. Only the Lamb is worthy to open the seals, the Lamb that was slaughtered. The Lamb has received power and wealth and wisdom and might, honor and glory and blessing, and every creature sings blessings to the Lamb, even the creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

John the Baptist declares in John 1:29-31, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” He declares this as Jesus is coming, and some of John’s disciples turn and follow Jesus. John proclaimed who Jesus was to the world, that he might be revealed to all.

The Wisdom of God is found in right living. In the fear, or awe, of God, we know how wondrous and awe-inspiring God is, to the point that we tremble with the love God has for us. Because of this, the faithful turn their whole lives to God, a life that begins now and that death cannot stop because love is greater than death. We seek God with our whole being, and we know that the pleasures of this world are fleeting. The gains of this world mean nothing and come with the cost of systemic sin. In seeking the Wisdom of God, we actively resist sin in this world. We actively oppose all forms of oppression and work to dismantle it, when we put our hearts and minds into following Jesus, into seeking Wisdom.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 111:1-3)
Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord,
With our whole hearts,
In the company of the congregation.
Great are the works of our God,
Studied by all who delight in God’s ways.
God’s work is full of honor and majesty,
God’s righteousness endures forever.

Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Eternal and Wise, Holy One, we confess before You that we have failed to live into Your Wisdom. We have failed to be in awe of You; instead, we have taken Your works for granted. We have sought the ways of this world that lead to our immediate, short-term satisfaction and worldly gain. We have neglected those in need around us. Instead of seeking our daily bread, we have sought our daily pleasures, confusing wants for needs, the short-term gain instead of the eternal reward in You. Forgive us. Call us away from the streets of foolishness to Your house of Wisdom, built upon the pillars of justice, righteousness, and mercy. Guide us to Your steps upon the firm foundation of trust in You. In the name of Christ, in the name of Wisdom, our Wise Eternal Creator, we pray all things. Amen.

Blessing/Assurance
May Wisdom lead us back to God. May we turn with trembling hearts, quiet minds, and open hands. May we know the love and grace of Jesus Christ and be filled with overflowing compassion. May we know the forgiveness, love, and assurance that Christ has given us, and share it with the world. In wisdom, may we live all our days, trusting in God’s word, and the assurance that new life has already begun. We are forgiven, loved, and restored. Go and share the good news. Amen.

Prayer
Hear our prayer, O Wisdom from on high. Draw us into Your Spirit. Pull us away from the gains of the world, the foolishness that deflects and deters us. Call us into Your ways of knowledge. May we study Your scriptures. May we listen for Your voice at work in creation still. May we perceive how You are making all things new. May we tremble in awe and wonder at the works of Your hands, and how You are still creating, even in our hearts. You are making a new thing that is springing forth. Help us to be open to the newness You breath in us. Holy Wisdom, lead us in the way of insight. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary: 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a; Psalm 51:1-12; Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; Psalm 78:23-29; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35

Narrative Lectionary: Series on Ephesians, 6:10-20 (Matthew 10:28-31)

The fallout from David’s assault of Bathsheba continues in 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a. Bathsheba, after a period of mourning for her husband, was brought into David’s house, but God knew what David had done. The prophet Nathan told David a parable, which David believed was a real story, of a rich man who exploited a poor man and stole one of the poor man’s sheep to feed his own guest. David was outraged and wanted the rich man dead, and reparations made to the poor man. Nathan then revealed that the rich man in the story was David, for he had exploited Bathsheba and murdered Uriah. Because of this, Nathan prophesied that violence would never leave David’s house and that his own wives would be taken from him. What David had tried to cover up, God revealed to everyone. David had to admit his sin to God through Nathan.

Psalm 51:1-12 is a song long attributed to David after Nathan’s revealing of David’s sin. The psalmist seeks mercy from God and requests to be cleansed from their sin. They confess their sin before God and seek to be purified and restored. The psalmist sings of how God desires truth from our inner heart, and requests that God create a new heart, to be restored to God’s presence.

Right after the people escaped their oppression in Egypt through the Red Sea, they began complaining on the other side to Moses and Aaron in Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15. They were hungry, and remembered how good the food was back in their captivity and how they had enough bread. God promised to rain down bread, just enough for each day, for them to collect, along with quails in the evening. In the morning, a flaky bread lay on the ground just under the morning dew. The Israelites wondered what it was, but Moses told them it was the bread, the manna, God provided.

Psalm 78 recounts the stories of the ancestors of the people, and vs. 23-29 recount the story of God providing food for the people in the wilderness. God provided the “mortals” with the “bread of angels.” God provided an abundance for the people, including the quail in their camp. They were “well-fed” for God gave into their cravings.

The Epistle lesson continues its series in Ephesians with 4:1-16, which was the Narrative Lectionary reading for last week. The author, purporting to be Paul writing from prison, begins the second half of the letter with an ancient creed of unity in Christ: “one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” The writer shifts from the unity of all to the diversity within the body, through the gift of God’s grace—we all have different gifts for ministry. The author calls for the believers to grow into maturity and to come into the unity of faith, “seeking the truth in love” within the body of Christ.

The Gospel series continues on John’s passages on the Bread of Life. Picking up from last week’s passage, in John 6:24-35, the crowds went looking for Jesus after the feeding of the 5000. Jesus had gone across the lake with the disciples after walking on the water to meet them, but then the crowds followed them on boats to Capernaum. Jesus knew they pursued him because they wanted more bread, more physical, tangible ways of satisfying their needs. Jesus instead called the crowds to work for spiritual food, what nourishes for eternal life. The crowds wanted to know what they must do to perform the work of God, but Jesus said the work was to believe in the one God sent to them. The crowds then asked for a sign, and one of them remembered the sign of the manna in the wilderness from Moses. Jesus corrected him—the manna was from God, not Moses—for God’s bread gives life. The crowds ask for Jesus to give them that bread always (reminiscent of when the Samaritan woman asked for the water of life in John 4:15). Jesus responded that he was the bread of life, and whoever came to him would never be hungry, and whoever believed in him would never be thirsty.

The Narrative Lectionary concludes its series on Ephesians with 6:10-20, the Armor of God (this will be the Revised Common Lectionary Epistle reading on August 22nd). This metaphorical list of armor is all defensive, save for the Sword of the Spirit (the word of God). The rest of it is for proclaiming peace, abiding in God’s salvation and righteousness. This metaphor reminds the reader that the struggle is not against blood and flesh but the rulers and authorities and powers of the present time of evil. The author roots nonviolent protest as spiritual work, against the spiritual forces of evil: oppression, greed, marginalization—all the forces of empire. The author concludes with a call to prayer and a request for prayer while they are in prison, so they may speak boldly in faith.

Jesus tells the disciples to not be afraid in Matthew 10:28-31. Jesus reminds the disciples that the authorities in this world have the power only to kill the body and to not be afraid of losing one’s life, but to fear the evil that can destroy both body and soul. But all are valuable to God, and all the hairs on our heads are accounted for.

What is it that we are pursuing in life? Are we satisfied with what we have, or are we pursuing more simply to gain more? What is the cost—not financially, but spiritually, emotionally, physically? Even when we believe we are trying to meet our daily needs, are we so caught up in the “rat race” that we miss what God desires for us? Are we all scavenging for bread instead of sharing the bread that we have with all in need, so that all people’s needs are met? A common understanding of the Feeding of the 5000 is that while Jesus may have given them only a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish, those there began to share the food that they had brought only for themselves, and recognized that when everyone shared, there was enough. The miracle was Jesus knew that simply starting with five loaves and two fish, people would want to add to that feast. When the crowds, in John’s account, follow Jesus because they want more bread, they missed the point. The bread is already with them if they have Jesus, for they know there is enough, and need to live it out with one another. This is the bread of life, for whoever comes to Jesus and lives in Christ’s ways will never be hungry.

Call to Worship (from John 6:35)
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.
“Whoever comes to me will never be hungry.”
Whoever comes to Christ will never be thirsty.
“Lord, give us this bread, always.”
May we come to God with hungry hearts;
May we come to Jesus with thirsty souls.
May we find fulfillment in the body of Christ;
May we worship God, knowing the fullness of God’s love for us.

Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
God of All, we come to You with broken hearts. We confess to You that we have sinned. We have broken faith with one another and with You. Our hearts have been led astray by the promises of the world. We have failed to live into Your intention for our lives. We have failed to view Your image in one another. We have taken what we wanted and taken it for granted and have harmed others in the process. Forgive us. Refine us and purify us, so that our hearts might heal, and fill with Your love for one another. Remove the stains of the world that blister and fester, that lie to us about our needs and confuse them with our desires. Restore us fully to You, O God, and help us to seek forgiveness, reparation, and restoration wherever possible. Amen.

Blessing/Assurance
Jesus said, as quoted in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Blessed are you when you seek the right ways of God; blessed are you when you pursue justice. You are forgiven, loved and restored on this journey of faith. Go with full hearts, wise minds, and the spirit of God in you, to love and forgive and bring healing to our broken world. Amen.

Prayer
Beloved Spirit, refresh in us Your image. Remind us that we are made to create, to do Your work in this world, to share beauty and awe. The ways of this world desire for us to produce, which is not the same as creativity, for creativity is breathed from You, Loving Spirit. Creativity inspires others and always reminds us of Your love in this world. Production leads us to wealth and worldly gain. Turn us away from the wheels of the world’s production and into the gentle movement of Your creativity, in how we live, how we move, and how we exist. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary: 2 Samuel 11:1-15; Psalm 14; 2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145:10-18; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21

Narrative Lectionary: Series on Ephesians 4:1-16 (John 15:1-4)

David turns from God’s ways in 2 Samuel 11:1-15. Instead of being off to war as other kings were at that time of year, David was home, where a king was not supposed to be. He spied Bathsheba bathing on the roof, and desired her, and sent for her. No matter who she was, a woman would have had little authority to say no in those days, and even today, the power differential is one all too familiar, a story played out in the #MeToo movement. Bathsheba was coerced. This is a story of sexual assault, though it is often told as a story of adultery, and Bathsheba is not often seen as the victim she really was. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David tried to cover up his sin by getting Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to go home and sleep with his wife, but Uriah the Hittite—not an Israelite—was so faithful to David and Israel he remained with his soldiers, until David had to orchestrate his death in battle. While next week’s lesson will cover the ramifications of David’s actions, this marks a turning point in the David story. From here on out, much of the violence that threatens David’s family comes from this point of betrayal and assault. David’s own sons learn that no one can refuse a king, and power and greed take over following the ways of God.

Psalm 14 calls out the unfaithful who are corrupt and have gone astray. The psalmist sings of how foolish they are, for if they eat, they know God provided the food—yet they deny God and God’s goodness. God is with the righteous and is the refuge of those who struggle and suffer. The psalmist prays that deliverance would come from the holy city, instead of corruption, for God’s people will rejoice when they are rescued from evil.

Elisha feeds one hundred people from twenty loaves of barley and some fresh ears of grain in 2 Kings 4:42-44. In this much older story that is less well-known to Christians (the more famous story is Jesus feeding the 5000), Elisha feeds a large group on very little, relying on the bountiful abundance of God. Even though Elisha’s servant questioned how to feed the people, Elisha knew there would be plenty left over.

Psalm 145 is a song of praise to God, and vs. 10-18 specifically praise God for God’s mighty deeds of power. The faithful speak the truth of God’s wonderful acts, and God’s reign will endure forever, proof of God’s faithfulness and steadfast love. God lifts up those who are struggling and provides for those in need. God is just and kind, and near to all those who are faithful to God’s truth.

The Epistle lesson continues its series in Ephesians with 3:14-21. The author prays that God will strengthen the believers through the power of God’s Spirit, and that they will know Christ dwells in their hearts through faith. In this section that concludes the first half of Ephesians, a sort of benediction is rendered, that the believers would know the fullness of God’s love and receive the blessing of God’s glory and power.

The Revised Common Lectionary’s Gospel selection begins a five-week series in John on the Bread of Life. In John 6:1-21, we read John’s account of Jesus feeding the 5000. In this version of the story, Jesus asked the disciples where they were to buy bread for the crowds as a means of testing them. In this account, it is a young boy who has the five loaves of bread and two fish—one of the youngest who was willing to share. The people saw the miracle of the feeding of everyone, with twelve baskets left over, as a sign that Jesus was the prophet “who was to come into the world,” and the crowds wanted to take him by force to make him king. Because of this, Jesus withdrew to the mountain. His disciples went down to the sea, and in the evening, Jesus walked out on the water in the midst of stormy seas to meet them in the boat, and to go ashore to the place they were headed.

The Narrative Lectionary continues its series on Ephesians, departing from the Revised Common Lectionary’s series by moving to 4:1-16 (which will be the Revised Common Lectionary Epistle reading next week). The author, purporting to be Paul writing from prison, begins the second half of the letter with an ancient creed of unity in Christ: “one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” The writer shifts from the unity of all to the diversity within the body, through the gift of God’s grace—we all have different gifts for ministry. The author calls for the believers to grow into maturity and to come into the unity of faith, “seeking the truth in love” within the body of Christ.

Jesus speaks of being the true vine in John 15:1-4. God is the vinegrower, and every branch that grows in Christ is made to bear fruit. Those that do not are pruned so they can grow more fruit. Only branches that abide in the vine can grow, so Jesus calls the disciples to abide in him.

God’s desires for us are not always the same as our own desires. We get caught up in the ways of the world, seeking worldly wealth, security, and notoriety. David had a glimpse of power and wanted more, believed he could have more without consequence—and assaulted a woman and murdered her husband because of it. The crowds saw Jesus having real, worldly power, and wanted to make him king over them—but Jesus desired to meet the needs of the people and show them that God was the one who provided for them. The writer of Ephesians emphasizes that diversity of gifts is wonderful, but we are also bound together as one body, Christ’s body. For the fruit of our lives—our righteousness, justice, kindness, compassion, joy, gentleness—all of these are witnesses to our unity in Christ, that we are rooted in God and not the ways of this world.

Call to Worship (Psalm 145:13b-14, 17-19)
The Lord is trustworthy and true,
Faithful in all of God’s ways.
The Lord upholds all who are falling,
And brings us up when we are brought low.
The Lord is just in all ways,
Faithful in all things.
The Lord is close to everyone who calls upon God;
God hears our cries and will save us.

Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Holy Spirit, Breather of Life, we confess that we have sought a different kind of life than the one You set out for us. We have desired to have the things we have made from this world. We have created possessions from the exploited resources of the earth. We have manufactured wealth off the labor of the oppressed and marginalized. We have pursued worldly means of satisfaction and security that separate us from the needs of others, believing in the myth of self-reliance and personal salvation. Forgive us. Call us into accountability with the greater community. Remind us of our responsibility to care for the one planet You made for us. Guide us into Your ways of repentance, reparation, and restoration to those we have wronged and exploited, even unknowingly. Lead us in Your ways of justice and righteousness, so we may truly know You, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Blessing/Assurance
We are made in God’s image, and that image is good. We are co-creators with God, and everything we create—art, music, poetry, beauty, and love—is good and necessary for the world. Make new things. Give space for new life to flourish. Bless and bless, and know God’s blessings. Love deeply, and know God’s love is with you. Be forgiven, seek restoration, and bless the world with your creativity. Amen.

Prayer
Bread of Life, Source of All, nourish us, for we have grown weak. The world has pressed down on us, the blight of oppression has suppressed us. Nourish our souls, Holy One. Feed us with Your words, Your wisdom, Your grace and Your peace. Quench our thirst for justice and righteousness. Restore us to Your strength, so we can pursue Your ways in this world. Guide us to use our resources to care and nourish others, because in You, there is always enough. You are a God of abundant love and grace. Feed us, guide us, and lead us on. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary: 1 Samuel 7:1-14a; Psalm 89:20-37; Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Narrative Lectionary: Series on Ephesians, 2:11-22 (Matthew 28:16-20)

David desired to build a temple for God, but God said, “not so fast” in 1 Samuel 7:1-14a. When David mentioned his concern to the prophet Nathan that he lived in a palace of cedar, but the ark of the covenant was in a tent, Nathan at first told David his idea sounded good and that God was with him. However, God spoke to the prophet that night, declaring that God never asked for a physical house like people. Instead, God, who appointed David as king, took David from among the sheep and commanded him to shepherd the people. God made a house out of David and his family. Because God had been with David and the people, God declared to Nathan that the people are God’s people—their home is in God. However, God will also provide a place for them to live. Once David passed on, his descendant would build a house for God. Nonetheless, the message from God is clear: God doesn’t desire a home; God desires for us to find our home as God’s people.

The psalmist sings on behalf of God in Psalm 89:20-37 that David is the one chosen and blessed by God, the servant of the Lord. God’s covenant with David will endure and God’s steadfast love will endure forever, as will David’s throne. Though David’s descendants may go astray, God will remain faithful and will not break the covenant with David and the people. David’s reign is established by God.

The prophet Jeremiah delivered God’s warning to the leaders, political and religious, who led the people astray, who were corrupt shepherds in Jeremiah 23:1-6. Though Jeremiah himself was preparing for exile, he shared a vision of hope for the future. God would raise up new shepherds and gather the people together. God would also, in the time to come, raise up from David’s legacy one who would reign as king and lead the people wisely, who would lead Judah and Israel to live in safety.

The Shepherd’s Psalm 23 is an ancient song of comfort attributed to David. The psalmist sings of God as their shepherd who leads them to places of rest and refuge, who restores their spirits and leads them through the vale of the shadow of death. God is with them like a shepherd, and they will not be afraid of any evil. God will be with them before their enemies, and they will dwell with God, knowing God’s blessings forever.

The Epistle selection continues its series in Ephesians with 2:11-22 (the same as the Narrative Lectionary series selection). Through Christ Jesus, Gentiles and Jewish people have been brought together as one. Though the law of the Jewish people was to remind them that they were a separate, holy people for God, in the writer of Ephesian’s view, the law has now been abolished to bring together the people, uniting them in peace. All people, regardless of background, have access to God. The spirit of unity in Christ brings all people together, Jewish and Gentile. The foundation of their faith is from the prophets and apostles, but Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, and all believers form the holy temple of God.

The Gospel lesson bookends the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. In Mark 6:30-34, following the death of John the Baptist, and after Jesus had sent his own disciples out into the villages after his rejection in his hometown, Jesus called the disciples to come together and rest for a while. While they ministered to all those coming and going, Jesus had compassion on the people, who were like sheep without a shepherd. Following his feeding of the crowds from the seven loaves and two fish, and following his approaching the boat on the lake by walking on water, in vs. 53-56, they came to Gennesaret. This is where Jesus had previously cast out the demon Legion into a herd of pigs, and the people had begged him to leave. Now, they welcome Jesus, and they recognize him—most likely because the man who had the demon cast out of him continued to tell the story of Jesus. In that region they brought those who were sick to Jesus, believing that even if they touched the hem of his clothes, they would be made well.

The Narrative Lectionary continues its series on Ephesians, with the same selection as the Revised Common Lectionary of Ephesians 2:11-22 (see above).

The secondary selection for the Narrative Lectionary is the Great Commission of Jesus in Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus commanded the disciples to go out and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to teach them to obey everything he commanded, and that he promised to be with them for all time. The disciples were commanded to go teach as they were taught, among all nations of people, Jewish and Gentile.

The image of the shepherd is one of God’s favorite metaphors in both Hebrew and Christian scriptures. God will never lose sight of us, never forget us, and will go after those who are lost, those who are considered least. In the Hebrew scriptures, the prophets looked to the hope of a new king who would lead in God’s ways, who would not lead the people astray the way the false prophets, priests, and kings had, becoming corrupt for power and money. The good shepherd would lead like David did, knowing God and seeking God’s will over their own. In Christian scriptures, Jesus, especially in John’s account of the Gospel, takes on the mantle of the good shepherd. In Mark’s account, Jesus recognizes that the people have lost hope—they are like sheep without a shepherd. They need hope again that they will find their way, that they will follow God’s ways. Jesus brings that hope to their lives in tangible ways by healing those who are sick, feeding those who are hungry. Jesus leads the people in a new way—not as a king, or a prophet prophesying against those who’ve gone wrong, but as someone who cares for their basic needs, someone who loves them deeply as a good shepherd loves their sheep.

Call to Worship

God is our Good Shepherd.

              God leads us to places of restoration.

God leads us in the paths of righteousness,

              And guards us in the valley of the shadow.

We fear no evil, because God is with us.

              God comforts us, and leads us to safety.

Goodness and mercy are with us now and always,

              For we worship and follow the Good Shepherd.

 

Prayer of Brokenness/Confession

God of All Nations, forgive us of the sin of nationalism. We may love our country, we may be proud and patriotic, but when we begin to believe that our country is better than others, that our ways are better than others, we deceive ourselves. For we are citizens of Your reign forever, and all nations, governments, and borders are of our making and are only temporary. When we unite our flag with the cross of Christ, we have been led astray and down a dangerous path, for the Cross is the path of sacrifice and living as last of all and servant of all. Remind us that You are the God of all peoples, of all tribes, nations, and languages, as declared in Revelation—this is what Your reign God looks like. There is no one flag that is under You, for all nations are under You, as all nations are human creations. You made the heavens and earth and made us in Your image. Remind us that all of us are Your beloved children and forgive us of our sins of nationalism that lead us astray from Your beloved community, Your kingdom on earth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 

Blessing/Assurance

You are God’s beloved child, made in God’s image. Your heart belongs to God, and there is nothing you can do to change that. Seek forgiveness, and know God forgives you. Show mercy, and know that God’s mercy and grace are with you. Practice compassion and loving-kindness, and your heart will be aligned to God’s heart. Go and live in God’s ways of love and compassion, for God is with you, now and always. Amen.

 

Prayer

Loving Shepherd, guide us into Your ways. Help us to never leave anyone behind, to remember the last, the lost, the least are Your beloved, and we have a mutual responsibility to care and love one another. Keep close to us in the shadows and save us from the wolves that seek to devour us with the world’s concerns for wealth, power, and notoriety. We know You have prepared a place for us, with cool waters and green pastures, a way of life where evil cannot harm us, especially when we remember that we dwell with You forever. Guide us into Your way of life, Loving Shepherd. Amen.