The Last Sunday of the Christmas Cycle

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Isa. 6:1-13. After Isaiah is commissioned with a burning coal, God sends him to tell the people of their desolation.

Cor. 15: 1-11. Paul reminds the Corinthians of the faith preached to them, from Christ’s death to Paul’s own vocation as an apostle.

Luke 5: 1-11. After the miraculous catch of fishes, Jesus tells Peter that henceforth, he will catch human beings.

The focus of these readings is on faithfulness or the lack of it.  One can see intimations of the Lenten season even as we end the Christmas cycle.  The gospel lesson focuses on vocation.  The disciple is to be a witness to the mighty acts of God.

Transfiguration of our Lord

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Exodus 34:29-35. After Moses received the tables of the testimony, he covered his face with a veil because of its radiance.

2 Cor. 3:12-4:2. Those who are faithful see the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces.

Luke 9: 28-43. As Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus, his raiment becomes dazzlingly white.

The story of the transfiguration prefigures the Easter Cycle. Before being led down the Lenten road of trial and temptation, we are presented with Jesus as in the same company as Moses and Elijah.  The story of transfiguration has the same theological significance as the story of death and resurrection.  God’s favor is clearly stated prior to the 40 day cycle of lent.  It is as if the construction of the lectionary is designed to tell us about God’s choice even as we are going to play out the experience of testing and temptation.

The Easter Cycle – Lent

Ash Wednesday, February 17. 2010

Joel 2:1-1, 12-17. Blow the trumpet, for the gracious God brings us back, and may not make his heritage a reproach.

2 Cor. 5: 20b-6:10. Christ’s ambassadors, despite great obstacles, beseech the Corinthians to be reconciled to God.

Matt. 6:1-6, 16-21. Don’t practice piety in order to be seen by others, but give alms, fast, and pray in secret and God will reward you.

How can the beginning of the Lenten cycle be put in a context that is larger than the individual?  This journey is more than a personal one.  It has to be more than about individuals.  Ash Wednesday is also a call to communal transformation as is suggested in the 2 Cor. passage.  Often Lent is trivialized in its focus on only individuals and focused on the reconciliation of the community and the world.

First Sunday in Lent

February 21, 2010

Deut 26: 1-11. Because God brought the “wandering Arameans” out of Egypt, they are instructed to give back the first fruits of the land.

Rom. 10:8b-13. If you confess Jesus, and believe that God raised him, you will, without distinction, be saved.

Luke 4: 1-13. And Jesus, led into the wilderness, underwent three temptations by the evil one.

The first Sunday in Lent gives opportunity to the preacher to spell out the nature of temptation both in Jesus’ context and in ours.  What temptations are analogous in our current context to the temptations that Jesus’ experienced?  Clearly the story of the testing in the wilderness gives us opportunity to discuss material as well as spiritual temptations that face both believers and faith communities.

Second Sunday in Lent

Gen. 15: 1-18. Abraham believed God’s promise that his descendants would be more numerous that the stars.

Phil. 3: 17-4:1. Do not live as enemies of the cross but stand firm in the Lord who will transform us.

Luke 13: 31-35. Jerusalem stones the prophets, but Jesus longs to gather the inhabitants of Jerusalem together as a hen does her brood.