Lectionary 31 through 34 Year C Advent 1-4 Year A Sundays: October 30 through December 18, 2016

Transcription

1 Lectionary 31 through 34 Year C Advent 1-4 Year A Sundays: October 30 through December 18, 2016

2 Resources: Preaching in the Year of Luke Luke in enterthebible.org (see Passages ) Matthew in enterthebible.org (see Passages, author: J. L. Boyce) Working Preacher: workingpreacher.org Text Week: textweek.com Study Bibles: Oxford, Harpers, Lutheran Study Bible Handouts: This PowerPoint PowerPoint Slides in Notes Format (pdf, one slide/page) Outlines and Themes in Luke-Acts & Matthew Pentecost, Part 3 (C), 31-34; Advent 1-4 (A) List of Readings Pentecost, Part 2 (C) 31-34; Advent 1-4 (A), Texts in Study Format: Luke: Key Narrative Selections, in Two Parts The Year of Luke. Lessons and Themes for Year C of the Lectionary ( ) Matthew: Key Narrative Selections in Two Parts The Year of Matthew. Lessons and Themes for Year A of the Lectionary ( )

3 Outline of Luke I. Preface: Statement of purpose: 1:1-4 II. Birth and Infancy Narrative: 1:5-2:52 III. Preparation for Ministry: 3:1-4:13 John / Baptism/ Genealogy/ Temptation IV. Ministry in Galilee: 4:14-9:50 V. Journey to Jerusalem - "Lukan Travel Narrative": 9:51-19:48 VI. Ministry in Jerusalem before Passion: VII. Passion and Death VIII.. Resurrection Narrative: 24 That you may know the truth 1.4 Today a Savior born for you 2.11 All flesh shall see God's Salvation 3.6 Anointed to bring good news 4.18 His face set for Jerusalem 9.51 The kingdom of God is near Truly, this man was righteous 23:47 Forgiveness for all nations 24.47

4 Themes in Luke-Acts Material Unique to Luke (see list) Righteousness / Justice re-imagined Salvation as the keyword of promise Today is the day of salvation The necessity of God s promises The presence and power of the Spirit For Witness and Mission Message: God raised Jesus from the dead The Promise of God is for all peoples A new community breaks down walls of division (the poor, the oppressed, the outcast, are the special objects of God s mercy)

5 Outline: Birth and Infancy Narrative (1:5-2:52) JOHN THE BAPTIST Dating 1:5 Setting & Characters 1:5-7 Announcement by Angel 1:8-13 NAME(John="God's gracious gift") 1:13 HYMN (Angel) 1:14-17 "How will I know this?" 1:18 Sign 1:19-22 Response 1:23-25 CENTRAL INTERLUDE 1:39-56 Elizabeth & Mary At greeting baby leaps in womb HYMN ("Magnificat") 1:47-55 JESUS Dating 1:26 Setting & Character 1:27 Announcement by Angel 1:26-31 NAME (Jesus="the Lord is Savior")1:31 HYMN (Angel) 1:32-33 "How will this be?" 1:34 Sign 1:35-37 Response 1:38 BIRTH OF JOHN Dating: Time fulfilled 1:57 Birth of John 1:57-58 (brief) NAMING (circumcision) 1:59-64 Response/Expectation "What will this child be?" 1:65-66 HYMN ("Benedictus") 1:67-79 Child grew / strong in spirit 1:80 BIRTH OF JESUS Dating (precise dating) 2:1 Birth of Jesus 2:1-20 (greatly expanded) Announcement by angels HYMN - Glory to God in Highest Response of shepherds - worship Response of Mary - kept in heart NAMING (circumcision) 2:21 Response/ Expectation - Simeon & Anna "What will this child be?" 2:22-38 HYMN ("Nunc Dimittis") 2:29-32 Child grew/strong in wisdom/favor of God 2:40 Epilogue:Example from Jesus' boyhood 2:41-51 "increase in wisdom/stature/favor with God and human beings" 2:52

6 Introduction: The Journey of Discipleship Recent biblical studies have newly impressed upon the interpreter and preacher how important it is to be guided by a perspective of the whole. Thus, when the texts assigned for the Sundays of the church year invite focus on smaller units, it is extremely helpful, even necessary for the preacher's perspective to be shaped and guided by the framework and movement of the larger context. This is especially true for the gospel lessons assigned for the second portion of the season of Pentecost in the year of Luke. It has become almost a commonplace to identify the portion of Luke from which all the lessons for these Sundays come as Luke's "travel narrative," the "journey to Jerusalem," or "the way of the determined Messiah" (D. Tiede, Luke. ACNT, p. 30; 9:51-19:27). Familiarity does not make this awareness trivial. In 9:51 we read "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem." These words set the theme and design for Jesus' "journey" to Jerusalem the eventual arrest, trial, crucifixion, and the surprising announcement of the resurrection and ascension shape the narrative throughout. A further theme is suggested in the issue of receiving or not receiving this Jesus (9:53) precisely because of his purposive direction toward Jerusalem. The obviously linked issue of discipleship is pressed in the back to back episodes about "following" Jesus that occur in 9:57-61 and culminate in the saying about the forward looking and purposive nature of discipleship and the kingdom of God. "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (9:62). Along the way constant reminders of the "journey" accompany the narratives of Jesus' healings, parables, and other teaching. They are meant to invite us modern readers and hearers along with the twelve not only to reflect on but to experience what it means to accompany Jesus on the faithful and often surprising "journey of discipleship."

7 Two narratives unfortunately completely missing from the lectionary for the year of Luke are extremely important as thematic paradigms for Luke's overall perspective and so for this journey: the juxtaposed stories of the healing of the paralytic and the call of Levi the tax collector (5:17-26, 27-32). In the first, healing is bound together with the issue of the forgiveness of sins and of Jesus' authority on earth to forgive sins. When in the immediately following story, Levi, a "tax collector and sinner," is called to "Follow me," we know that we are in for some surprises. Both of these stories are at the heart of Luke's story. In the power of the Spirit at work in Jesus' ministry, in the linking of forgiveness and healing, is the sign and declaration for the Lucan disciple community of the impossibility of new wine being contained in old wine skins (5:37). At the birth of Jesus (2:11), and again at the end of this "journey" at Jericho's encounter with Zacchaeus (19:10) we hear that "today" salvation has happened in this Jesus. Throughout the reading of Luke, and so in the Pentecost "journey of discipleship" the preacher will want to be attentive to the signs of this newness, to the ways in which healing and forgiveness and salvation are constantly bound up together and break in upon our world "this day" with the signs of God's newness. Overall Themes: Journey to cross God s Name is Surprise Good News or Offense? Discipleship Spirit - Healing Forgiveness Today is Salvation Justice/Righteousness Gift of Kingdom

8 Overall Themes: 1 Key theme is the surprising and overwhelming power of God s forgiving love 2) A love that has the transforming power to change lives of those who faithfully and obediently welcome the seeking love of God in Christ Jesus 3) A transforming power that is a promise for Today here and now, and not just in some far off future 4) This is the promise of Christmas come home for real in our lives here and now today

9 Isaiah 1:10-18: God rejects ritual sacrifice without just actions; invites people to experience God s transforming forgiveness 1) Note key feature of passage: parallelisms and opposites that underscore the alternatives of rote sacrifices with injustice (13) OR a new beginning through God s forgiving transformation (18) 2) Verse 1 (as throughout) parallels give emphasis: Hear: listen // word: teaching // Lord: God 2) had enough // do not delight Particulars of futile ritual sacrifices culminate in ultimate irony of unfaithfulness: solemn assemblies with iniquity (13) 3) stretched out hands full of blood meet God s hidden eyes and stopped ears (15) 4) A call for new beginning: wash; be clean; remove evil; learn to do justice for orphan and widow (16) 5)And a final promise and invitation: Come now! God does not forsake but holds out promise of forgiveness for sins and a transforming power of a new beginning (18)

10 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12: Paul delights in continued faith that is sign of God s empowering Grace in the Lord Jesus Christ 1) The reading follows typical opening structure of a Pauline letter include only the initial greeting and thanksgiving portions: 2) Greetings (1-2): In the name of: God & Lord Jesus (twice gives emphasis of that invocation) 3) And content: Grace and Peace are the gift of God s presence in Jesus Christ 4) Thanksgiving: For community: with Paul and with each other (3-4) For faith that continues to grow For Love for each other For steadfastness in midst of persecution 5) Concluding promise of Prayer for the community: that God will make them worthy of their calling through the resolve of faithful good works 6) All leading to the end of the name of the Lord Jesus being glorified 7) All is in accordance with God s grace: so that the whole reading begins and ends on the note of Grace Omitted in reading: vss. 5-10) is the promise that God s righteous judgment is at work to make the people worthy of the coming kingdom, and to bring eternal punishment on those who persecute God s righteous ones who continue to hope in the coming of the Lord Jesus

11 Luke 19:1-10: Seeking Zacchaeus is surprised and transformed by the power of God s seeking and forgiving love in the Savior Jesus Christ 1. Culmination of the Journey to Jerusalem: at gates of Jericho, Jesus is intentional and the story would simply pass on by (his face is set: cf. 9:51) 2) Interrupted by Zacchaeus: all strikes against him: chief tax collector, rich (cf. 18:25f) 3) He is a seeker (3) prevented by circumstances of crowd and height, but persistent (4) 4) And meets God s necessity Zacchaeus! Jesus addresses him by name! I must abide with you! (key Lukan theme; see 2:49;4:43;9:22;15:32; 24:26,44) 5) That is for today (5) first word! Today is the day of salvation (see 2:11; 4:21; 23:43) 6) So he hurried and came down and received him with joy (6) As at Levi s banquet (5:27f), Zacch is already transformed by obedience and joy at Lord s presence! 7) How about others? All began to grumble! That s just like him; eating with sinners again! (7) 8) But Zacch stands his ground and without any instruction already promises the proceeds of a changed life: forgiving/making good on debts abundantly (8) 9) Then Jesus speaks a benediction (9-10) 10) Today salvation has happened to this house Today again! The words an intentional almost verbatim recital of the Christmas announcement to the shepherds (2:11f: Today a savior has been born for you): 11) Adoption: he too is a child of Abe 12) The Lost is found (cf. Prodigal 15.32f.) That s why the son of man has come 13) Salvation happens when seekers suddenly today find that are the objects of God s seeking love; it is they who are the found ones ( seeking literally begins and ends the story; vs. 3 and 10) 14) While those who merely desire justice or morality will always find Jesus and the forgiving and transforming power of the kingdom of God offensive

12 Overall Themes: True Knowing of God is a Matter of the Heart A New Heart is created and given in the Forgiving love of God (cf. Psalm 51: Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew in me a new and right Spirit) True Freedom comes in the Son of God The Son of God, Jesus, has set us free, and now abides in God s house forever

13 Jeremiah 31:31-34 God s Covenant Promise: I will put my Law in their hearts, they will know me, and I will remember their sin no more. 1) God s promise is sure 2) Even better than the old one, which they broke; Still God takes the initiative 3) This new covenant: my Torah will be written on their hearts; I will be their God; they will be my people (Be to them God; Be to me People) Words of closeness 4) An intimate knowing: No more need to teach 5) Because: I will forgive their sins, and I will remember them no more.

14 Romans 3:19-28 An image of a new law (Torah) and the new life of faith constituted in the forgiveness of sins in Christ 1) Abut this old law: through law comes knowledge of sin 2) But NOW: a new Torah established in the righteousness (the right action) of God through faith in Christ 3) This right relation comes as a gift by grace through the redemption in Christ 4) God passed over sins (cf. Jeremiah: remember no more ) 5) Know this God: he righteous, and he makes righteous those who put their trust in Jesus 6) Nothing to boast about, because boasting assumes works well done, but this righteousness is a matter of faith 7) To sum it all up: a person is made right with God (justified) by faith, quite apart from works of the law

15 John 8:31-36 Faith has to do with Abiding in the Word of God which is the mark of True Freedom 1) Faith and Abiding belong together as two images of true life in Christ 2) True discipleship = Abiding in Jesus Word (NRSV continue in misses the key Johanine word abide ) 3) Such abiding leads to knowledge of the truth 4) And truth has the power to set ones free 5) What of Abe? (old order, old ID, old relationships) 6) The old is marked by sins, by slavery, by division 7) But the Son abides! (again NRSV misses key word) forever 8) SO hear the promise!: if the Son sets you free, then you are really free!

16 Overall Themes: 1) Focus is on central confidence in the Resurrection 2) Invites and calls to an imitation of an emphatic assertion and trust of the power and presence of God in the face of all the present signs of uncertainty and the opposite 3) Proclaims God s role as my Redeemer and the hope for a life that will continue in God s presence and abiding love 4) We live as children of the resurrection and belong to a God who is the God of the living, his chosen ones

17 Job 19: 23-27a: In the midst of extreme suffering and uncertainty Job reaffirms his trust in the presence and power of God s presence and abiding love 1) 3-fold emphatic pronouncement underscores the importance of Job s coming affirmation of hope in the midst of uncertainty (23-24: written down inscribed engraved in rock ) 2) But with certain irony: he still banks on reality of earthly things as sign of God s power: written down; inscribed in a book; engraved in rock forever! 3) Affirmation of God s redemption and everlasting power: My redeemer will live and that life will extend to an everlasting presence for me! (26) 4) At last God is for me! Job insists in hope; even when his heart faints within! 5) Job refuses to give up hope/ faith in God s power even amidst all the present signs and uncertainties of the opposite

18 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17: Paul encourages sober reflection and confidence regarding the Second Coming of the Lord The issue is how to think/behave in light of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus: 4 points: A. Caution (1-5, also omitted 6-12) 1) Don t be deceived by any report that Day of Lord is already here 2) The time will come when the rebellion of the wicked is destroyed B. Affirmation (13-14): 1) Know this: you are loved and chosen for salvation through your belief in the truth 2) So God called you through the good news of the gospel so that you may obtain the glory that belongs to being in Christ Jesus C. Encouragement (15) 1) Stand firm 2) Hold fast to the traditions you have been taught D. Benediction and Prayer (16) 1) The Lord Jesus and God himself have loved us and graced us with eternal comfort and hope 2) Let that truth comfort and strengthen your hearts so that you continue in doing good works and speaking the good news truthfully

19 Luke 20:27-38: Jesus is tested: the issue is teaching about the Resurrection 1) Setting is important: the Journey to Jerusalem has ended; Jesus teaches in Jerusalem before his Passion and Death 2) A question of testing: by Sadduccees re: the Resurrection (in which they do not believe! 27) 3) The tradition/authority: Moses said. (28) 4) So here s an example..extreme ; 7 marriages (29-33) 5) Jesus responds: it is a question of two ages, this age and the age of resurrection, of two worlds; children of the resurrection belong to an age that is of a different sort (34-36) 6) Jesus simply affirms the resurrection: the dead are raised (37) 7) Then returns to the tradition of Moses: even Moses affirms the resurrection: when he testifies that God is a living God, and a God of those who also are God s living chosen ones (38)

20 Overall Themes: 1) All Saints Day invites doxology and praise for what God has done in Christ for the sake of God s chosen people 2) Those who belong to God are the inheritors of an everlasting kingdom, that includes people of all peoples and nations 3) God has raised Jesus from the dead and given to him all power and authority for the sake of the church, which is his body 4) The power of Jesus presence and teaching calls disciples to a new design for living which takes shape in lives that return good and blessing in the face of evil summarized in the Golden Rule

21 Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18: Daniel s night vision teaches him its central truth: the holy ones of the Most High shall possess the kingdom forever 1) Daniel has a troubling (15) night dream of four winds and four beasts (1-3) 2) Omitted: (4-14) the description of the four beasts, and of an Ancient One on his throne (9f.) and of a Son of Man who comes on the clouds of heaven and is anointed with an everlasting kingdom of all peoples and nations (13-14) 3) An angel interprets the vision for Daniel (15-18): 4) It teaches a truth: the holy ones who belong to God shall receive and possess an everlasting kingdom (18)

22 Ephesians 1:11-23 Part of a grand doxology that describes the inheritance that belongs to those who are in Christ Jesus 1) Being in Christ (first words) sets the context of this reading: everything has to do with spelling out what it means to be in Christ (11) 2) We have been given an inheritance not by accident but according to the working out of God s purpose and will (5, 11) 3) So that who live in hope might live for the praise of his glory (a repeated refrain: 12, 14) 4) Thanksgiving for that life which consists in faith in the Lord and love toward the saints (15-16) 5) And prayer for wisdom that can know: (18-19) The hope to which God has called us The riches of his glorious inheritance The working of God s great power among us 6) God s power at work when he raised Jesus from the dead and seated him in heaven with power over all creation for all ages 7) And made Jesus head over all things for the sake of the church, which is his body in which he dwells forever in all fullness.

23 Luke 6:20-31 Jesus teaches his disciples about the blessings of the kingdom, and calls them to attitude and action that befits those who are called as his followers: key and climax in the so-called Golden rule: To do to others as as you would have them do to you. Context: Part of Jesus teaching on the plain (cf. Matthew s Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, chap. 5:1f) To his disciples 1) 4 blessings: spoken to the poor, the hungry, those who weep, those reviled for the sake of Jesus: they will experience the promise of the kingdom 2) 4 woes: spoken to those who are rich, the full, who rejoice, who enjoy fame now, because they will experience a reversal (this unique to Luke, cf. also the same reversals of Mary s Magnificat in Luke 1:49f) 3) But I say: Jesus offers another model of discipleship: loving enemies and returning good for evil (27-30) 4) Summarized and gathered in the climactic statement of the Golden Rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you (31)

24 Overall Themes: Traditional Theme of this next to last Sunday of Pentecost: Reflection on the End Times 1) Readings combine to give assurance regarding two matters: a) Evil and evil doers will not triumph; they will receive ultimate punishment/judgment b) Sure and certain hope of God s elect; they will not be abandoned but will experience God s presence and promise even in the midst of trials and suffering 2) Exhortation to steadfastness and persistence in good works in the time of waiting before the end 3) Confidence that whatever comes, the faithful live in the name of the Lord

25 Malachi 4:1-2 The prophet reflects on the coming Day with confidence regarding those who fear the Lord 1) Focus: the Day (1) 2) The end will surely come: the Day is coming ; the prophet reflects with confidence looking at the future 3) says the Lord : a reminder that all that comes in within the control and command of God 4) Two alternative images govern that future reflection: a) For evildoers: burning and destruction, with no root or branch remaining b) For those who fear the Lord: a sun of righteousness, with healing in its wings 5) And final promise of joy: you shall go out like calves leaping from their stall 6) A call for faithful to regard the end with a sense of anticipation, joy, and freedom, light and hope

26 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Paul gives instructions for life in community as it waits before the end 1) Overall theme is instruction: I command you (6, 10, 12) 2) Overall context: awareness that we live in the name of the Lord which puts its mark on all that happens in community (6, 12) 3) Issue: some live without order, in laziness (NRSV: idleness) there have been reports (11) 4) Two opposite images are stressed: Those who work faithfully (8, 10 11) Those who live in idleness banking on community support (6, 7, 11) 5) Paul urges community to Imitate his example (7, 9) 6) Summary instructions/call to community: Work with quiet dedications so as to earn their own keep and not live off the community and the work of others 7) And finally: to those who have been faithful already: don t give up the model of living according to what is right

27 Luke 21:5-19 In Jerusalem before the Passion Jesus speaks of the future to encourage his disciples to faithful living in the meantime, even in the face of hardships and persecution The setting: in Jerusalem, with the view of the temple in the background 1) Some notice the beautiful surroundings but Jesus speaks of the future when things will be changed: the days will come (6) 2) Disciples ask: when and with what signs (7) 3) Jesus speaks: first word is caution; don t be misled by false reports that Jesus the Messiah has already come or that the time is at hand 4) First their will be times of war, destruction, persecution 5) And there will be times that call for faithful witness by the disciple community (12, 13) 6) Jesus speaks secondly: to give confidence: I will be present and give you words and wisdom even when you experience hatred because of my name (17) 7) Final promise: you will not perish; your lives (NRSV souls ) will be held in Gods hand

28 Overall Themes: 1) On this last Sunday of the church year we celebrate the good news that Jesus as exalted and crucified Messiah and King is our salvation and our hope and our life. 2) Jesus is for us God s faithful shepherd king in whom all of God s love and care for God s people are gathered and empowered 3) The ultimate scene of the victorious king is Jesus on the cross where (in Luke s story) he speaks only words of forgiveness and salvation, even to those who seem to have no hope

29 Jeremiah 23:1-6 Jeremiah ponders shepherds who have betrayed God s people, and relays God s promise of a new and different shepherd a righteous branch for David 1) Here the image of shepherd and king are joined and Christians read as a promise and image of Jesus as Messiah and king in fulfillment of God s promise 2) 4 times in the passage, the refrain says the Lord undergirds the surety of God s promise: the prophet speaks for the Lord 2) Question: what kind of shepherds will we have 3) First a lament: evil shepherds who are not shepherds have scattered the flock 4) Promise: So, therefore God says I myself will do it (3 times: ) I will gather, I will bring them back, I will raise up true shepherds (3, 4) 5) And finally: a new Shepherd King: God s own Messiah (5-6) A righteous branch, a new king, wisdom, justice, righteousness who brings salvation and life 6) Signed by his Name: The Lord is our righteousness 7) Promise to God s people is that in this new king and shepherd they shall know salvation and life that is God s hope and will for them

30 Colossians 1:11-20 The writer sounds the keynotes of the promise of salvation that is ours through God s Son, through whom we have inherited a place in the kingdom in which he rules as victorious first fruits of the resurrection 1) God in Christ has given us an inheritance 2) God has rescued us from darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son 3) The key marks of this Son and his kingdom: redemption and forgiveness of sins (14) 4) And now a litany of this Son and his identity: (15-20) In the image of God; First born of creation; all things created through him; he exists before creation; head of the body his church; the first born of the resurrection; in him all the fullness of God; through him God reconciles to himself all creation 5) With the final promise: that in him God makes peace through his death on the cross 6) Jesus is the ultimate Messiah/king and the agent of God s plan of redemption and salvation that is our inheritance because of his death on the cross and the power of his resurrected life

31 Luke 23:33-43 Jesus as our exalted and victorious king is seen most clearly in his crucifixion and death as the working of salvation through the forgiveness of sins 1) Jesus is crucified as the King/Messiah, ironically in the midst of his opposites (criminals) 2) Jesus first and last (only) words from the cross in Luke: Father forgive them even as he hangs on cross Jesus speaks the key sign of salvation: forgiveness (34) And promises salvation, not as just a memory, but as continued life in the presence of the Messiah: with me in paradise (43) 3) Underscored at his death: 3 times Messiah/King is linked with the theme of salvation: If he is Messiah let him save (35) If you are Messiah save yourself (37) Are you not Messiah save self AND US (39) 4) In this story then: Messiah, salvation, and forgiveness are linked together with the promise that is in Jesus ironic victory as Savior King (Today a Savior has been born for you in the city of David, 2:11 ) and now this King promises that those who know his forgiveness will be with him Today in paradise 5) Today is the day of salvation: see especially in Luke 2:11; 4:21; 19:5, 9; 23:43; and this promise is even beyond what we could even hope for or imagine: the thief asks only to be remembered, but Jesus promises that he will be with him, eternally in his presence and joined in his power and victory signed in his death on the cross

32 Overall Themes: 1)Readings reflect on the gifts of God that undergird the reasons and characteristics of a thankful and whole life 2) Giving of first fruits of harvest in thanksgiving and testimony to gifts of God as recounted in the story of the Exodus and inheritance of the land of promise 3) Paul calls for a life of thanksgiving focused in reflection and thanksgiving for all the key blessings of life summarized in the theme of God s peace and presence 4) A reminder and call to faith in the One who is at the center of all God s gifts: Jesus is the true bread who comes down from heaven. In him is life and salvation

33 Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Moses gives instructions to the people of Israel to recall and give thanks for God s gifts of the land and for God s deliverance in the Exodus 1)Key theme is the gifts of God to the people (1,2,3,10,11) 2) People are called upon to acknowledge God as a gracious giver 2) Key duty is to give testimony to God s gracious acts that have followed God s people: became a nation, brought out of Egypt, gave them the land (call to tell our stories!) 3) So now: thanksgiving in the gift of first fruits is a response to all that God has done (10) 4) There is a time to celebrate in the midst of God s bounty and in what has been shared in the response of thanksgiving

34 Philippians 4:4-9 - Paul rehearses the character and way of life as one of rejoicing and giving thanks and reflection on those things which are signs of the Peace that belongs to God s presence with God s people 1)Rejoice in all circumstances; it bears repeating! (4) 2) Lord is near: God s presence with God s people is a key reminder (5, 9) 3) God s presence puts worry aside and calls for a life of prayer and thanksgiving (6) 4) In the assurance that the Peace of God (7, 9) will guard us totally (heart and mind) in Christ Jesus: that s a promise! 5) So, a summary call to reflection on the good things of life: The true, honorable, just, pure, the pleasing, 6) Joined with call to live and act according to what we have learned and received and heard and seen in the lives and teachings of leaders like Paul 7) A final repeated promise: God s peace will be with you

35 John 6: Jesus calls to belief in him as the Bread of Life that has come down from heaven as God s gift 1) Context is the feeding of the people in the wilderness (John 6) 2) Jesus charges the people to work for the food that does not perish 3) The true bread is the one that God has given, the One who comes down from heaven 4) The true response is to believe in this One whom God has sent 5) Jesus claim: I am the Bread of Life (answers our prayer: Give us today our daily bread of Lord s Prayer) 6) At heart of the gospel promise is this promise that the Father has given this true bread 7) To be truly thankful is to acknowledge this true Bread as the key to life and to believe in this Bread 8) Whoever believes and comes to this bread will know the heart of true life and will never hunger or thirst again

36 Matthew in Advent (1-4) Outline of Matthew The Gospel of Matthew: Outline (JBoyce) (Adapted from James L. Boyce, Matthew, I. Title and Birth Narrative (1:1 2:23) 1. Genealogy (1:1 17) 2. The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (1:18 25) 3. Visit of the Wise Men (2:1 12) 4. The Escape to Egypt and Return (2:13 23) II. Jesus Galilean Ministry: Preparation (3:1 4:22) 1. The Preaching of John (3:1 12) 2. The Baptism of Jesus (3:13 17) 3. Jesus Testing by Devil in the Wilderness (4:1 17) 4. Jesus Begins Ministry in Galilee (4:12 17) 5. Call of the First Disciples (4:18 22) III. Jesus Galilean Ministry: Proclaiming in Word and Deed (4:23 9:38) 1. Framing Summary: Teaching, Preaching, Healing Every Disease (4:23 25) 2. Ministry in Word: Sermon on the Mount. First Discourse (5:1 7:29) 3. Ministry in Deed: Cycle of Nine Miracles (8:1 9:34) 4. Framing Summary: Teaching, Preaching, Healing Every Disease (9:35 38) IV. Call and Mission of the Disciples. Second Discourse (10:1 42) V. John s Question and the Gathering Conflict (11:1 12:45) VI. Teaching in Parables: The Kingdom of Heaven. (12:46 13:58) 1. Framing Summary: Jesus True Kindred (12:47 49) 2. Parables of the Kingdom: Treasures New and Old. Third Discourse (13:1 53) 3. Framing Summary: Rejection by His own People (13:54 58) VII. Ministry in Galilee and Gentile Territory: Growing Opposition (14:1 15:39) 1. Death of John the Baptist (14:1 12) 2. Feeding the Five Thousand (14:13 21) 3. Jesus Walks on Water (14:22 33) 4. Summary: Healing the Sick (14:34 36) 5. Pharisees and Scribes Protest: On Clean and Unclean (15:1 20) 6. Canaanite Woman s Faith (15:21 28) 7. Summary: Healing the Sick (15:29 31) 8. Feeding the Four Thousand (15:32 39) VIII. Ministry in Galilee: Peter s Confession and Jesus Foretelling of his Passion (16:1 17:27) IX. Jesus Teaching: A New Community of Forgiveness. Fourth Discourse(18:1 35) X. Jesus Ministry in Judea: On the Way to Jerusalem (19:1 20:34) XI. Jesus Ministry in Jerusalem before the Passion (21:1 23:39) XII. On the End of the Age: Faithful Waiting for the Son of Man. Fifth Discourse (24:1 25:46) XIII. The Passion of Jesus Messiah (26:1 27:66) XIV. The Resurrection and Great Commission (28:1 20)

37 Themes in Matthew His name is Jesus Savior; Immanuel God with Us (1:1-2:23) Genesis Creation Genealogy (1:1-17) This was done to fulfill Beginnings: God is Immanuel: Matthew 1:18-2:23 (Advent 4, Christmas, Epiphany) "You must be Perfect" On Willing and Doing (3:1-7:29) The Teacher of Righteousness: A New Revelation Call and Response: Matthew 3-4 (Advent 2; Baptism, Epiphany 3, Lent 1) Blessing, and the Law: Matthew 5:1-6:34 (Epiphany 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, AshWed) On Hearing and Doing: Matthew 7:15-29 (Pent 9) "Are You the One who is to Come?" Genealogies of Discipleship (8:1-12:50) The Call to Discipleship and Mission Miracles & Authority:: And they glorified God: Matthew 8:1-9:35 (Pent 10, 11) Sent as sheep amid wolves; disciple like teacher; slave like master 10:16-42 (Pent 12, 13) Are You the One? Acceptance or Offense? Matthew 11:2-11 (Advent 3) Come to Me for Rest: 11:25-30 (Pent 14) "How Many Times?" Transformed for Disciple Community (13:1-18:35) Hidden Revelation and the New Community of the Kingdom How shall we read the Parables? Matthew 13:1-52 (Pent 15, 16, 17) Bread for the many; you give them something to eat 14:13-21 (Pent 18) On Crossing Boundaries: Matthew 15:10-28 (Pent 20) Blessed are you...take up your Cross and Follow 16: (Pent 21, 22) Transformed Discipleship: Matthew 18:15-35 (Pent 23, 24) The Faithful and Wise Servant Waiting Before the End Time (19:1-28:20) Keep Awake for you do not know the day of the Lord s Coming The first shall be last, the last first: On Justice and Equity 20: 1-16 (Pent 25) Rejected is Chosen: Wicked Tenants (Pent 26) Two Commands of Love: God and Neighbor 22:34-40 (Pent 30) On Waiting -. Maidens, Talents, Judgment (Adv1, Pent32,33,ChristKing) Trial and Death: He Trusts in God, Let God deliver Him : Chaps (Passion) The Resurrection: Is it True? How Will We Read and Hear? 28:1-15 (Easter) Endings: I AM with you always to the end of the age. 28:16-20 (Holy Trinity)

38 Overall Themes: 1) All of the lessons speak of that day - God s timing, about a future that is on one hand unknown but of a future that is in God s hands 2) So invites vision/imagination of a future that belongs to God 3) Invites sure and sober living in the light of God s future, as ones who have through Baptism, put on the new clothing of the Lord Jesus 4) Through God s teaching and by walking in light of God s salvation we are promised a future without warfare and strife, both in the life of nations, and in our own individual lives in community 5) The call is to live each day under the promise of God s presence 6) Realize that it takes imagination shaped by God s promises to see the poetry of the promise breaking in beyond the reality of today s same old, same old routine to realize as Paul says, that the day of salvation is already near at hand

39 Isaiah 2:1-5 Isaiah speaks the Lord s Word to the present context with sure and certain hope that the future belongs to God 1) The word of the Lord (1): in this time God s word comes to God s people 2) In days to come (2) the timing of God s future is uncertain, thus all the more important to trust it is God s hands 3) All shall come: (2) God s promise so inviting that all nations will come 4) Come let us go (3) all nations will want to go to the Lord s house so we will want to be part of that croud 5) The future: he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths teaching and life will correspond 6) A double address of anticipation: Come let us go up; come let us walk (3, 5) 7) Shaped by the word of promise: For out of Zion shall go instruction and the word of the Lord 8) A sure and certain hope and vision: God will bring about repentance and transformation of a future without war and bloodshed 9) A vision of response: Come let us walk in the light of this new vision and hope (5) 10) Invites reflection and repentance as we hope in God s future and anticipate the shape of God s promises for all the nations

40 Romans 13:11-14 Paul speaks of the time of God s salvation that is already near at the door it is the time to leave the darkness and live as ones who belong to the light 1) The question: What time is it? (11) 2) Answer: it is the time of God s salvation! 3) It is time to abandon the works of darkness, and to prepare to live in armor/clothing of God s new light (12) 4) Contrast: living in the day versus living in the dark 5) 3 images of dark: NOT reveling and drunk; NOT riotous partying; NOT quarreling and jealousy 6) Rather : images of the light: like putting on your clothes in the morning: a Baptismal clothing in the Lord Jesus 7) Salvation is like the dawning of the new day, a fresh start, in which we trust God s power to enable us to live in a way that matches our new clothes of God s promising future

41 Matthew 24:36-44 Jesus speaks of the day of his coming and of the need for watchfulness and ready waiting 1) That day (36, 44) reference to that future begins/ends the passage: frames the reflection 2) Two things about that day we know: 3) One: it has to do with the sure and certain coming of the Son of Man (3 times, 37, 39, 44) as in Isaiah, the future is in God s hands and the promise is sure! The last word of the reading in the original Greek is: Son of Man is coming! 4) Two: no one knows the timing (4 times, 36, 39, 42,43) 5) So call is to watchfulness and readiness; the challenge is being lulled by same old, same old of the present day 6) So be awake, and live with our visions and imaginations tuned to what God has in store 7) In each day the promise of the Lord s nearness is that anytime the Lord may come, while working in the field (40-41) or like a thief at night (43) 8) We must be ready for when the timing of God s mystery and salvation will unfold

42 Overall Themes: 1) Lessons invite reflection on Christian hope in promises of God seen in talk of the kingdom, of repentance and responsibility of bearing fruit 2) Hope is secured in the promise of One who is coming 3) God is able to do this by raising up One who is the promise of life and salvation for us 4) Invites imagination and dreaming of being open to new the possibilities 5) Repentance and hope belong together as a response to God s future in Jesus Christ

43 Isaiah 11:1-10 Isaiah dreams a dream of the Lord s future in the promise of a coming righteous judge empowered by the Spirit 1) Begins with doubled surety of the promise: a root shall come (1) 2) Promise is personal: a shoot, a branch, on him ; this note begins and ends (frames) the reading: 1,2, 10) 3) Focused in presence and power of God s Spirit (2) 4) Spirit s power shapes the coming One: wisdom, might, knowledge, fear of Lord, and above all righteous judgment (three times: 3,4,5) 5) An ideal vision: the world will be changed: wolf and lamb, etc. (5-8) 6) In sum: they shall not hurt or destroy! (9) 7) Why? Because earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord: the Lord will do this 8) Repeated promise: On that day! root of Jesse shall stand 9) Sign of overwhelming response: all nations will come to get in on this God and participate in his dwelling (10)

44 Romans 15:4-13 Paul speaks of the resounding hope that is ours in Christ Jesus by the power of God s Spirit in us 1) Scriptures are for our instruction 2) Key theme & purpose is hope ; that we might continue to live in hope (4 times: 4, 12, 13 twice) 3) Hope inspires steadfastness and encouragement (4,5) and harmonious living 4) All with one end: giving glory to God 5) Key sign is the life of Jesus Christ: in Christ hope belongs to all: we live in welcome of one another, just as Christ has welcomed us (7) 6) Christ became our servant (diakonos) so that all, circumcized and Gentiles alike, may give glory to God for God s mercy (as the scriptures bear witness regarding the root of Jesse cf. Isaiah reading!) (8-12) 7) Concluding prayer and theme: The God of hope will fill you with joy in believing by the power of the Holy Spirit so that you may continue to live in that hope (13)

45 Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptist appears in wilderness and calls for repentance because God s kingdom is at hand and warns that baptism brings with it the call to bear fruit worthy of that repentance 1)Traditional theme for Advent 2 is preaching of John the Baptist in those days, preaching the time is right! (1) 2) Preaching in two major parts: the kingdom (2-7), repentance (7-12) 3) Kingdom of God is near! Response is one of anticipation and hope (cf. Isaiah s vision) ; all go out confessing their sins: kingdom invites change! (6) 4) But when he saw! (7) turns to call for repentance: Bear fruit worthy of repentance: calls attention to repentance as a change of life in light of the coming of the kingdom (8) 5) Repentance prepares for God s entry something is wrong and calls for change: God s power enables a transformed life 6) Leads to themes of righteousness and judgment; repentance means to be tied to a hopeful future, and not to be enslaved by past do not presume on status (Abraham), but see relationship between being children of God, and doing/bearing fruit (9-10)

46 7) Key is baptism as sign of this coming power (11) 8) So what do we hope for? What and how do we imagine God s future. How will God s promise of the Messiah 9) Hope is a treasure that shapes the present as we imagine ourselves into God s promises and future in the coming Jesus the Christ God is able to raise up children! (9) 10) Advent is about building/creating our hope chest from which we can bear fruit for God s future among us 11) Final note of fire and judgment leave us with the reminder (especially in Matthew) that this kingdom and this call to repentance and bearing fruit is serious business 12) But also the reminder: God is able key is God s ability and promise of God s power. One does not force fruit. Fruit springs forth out of the promise of the new kingdom and out of being made new as a child of God s promise.

47 Overall Themes: 1) The promise of God is that God comes in surprising places to act for salvation for God s people 2) Call is to wait with patience and hope and to be ready with eyes to see the signs of God s salvation among us 3) But what do we expect, and what will we see? 4) But how long do we wait, and is this Jesus the one for whom we wait? The central question of faith the leap from unbelief to belief that is in us the sign of the Lord s blessing

48 Isaiah 35:1-10 Isaiah s vision of the coming of the Lord in surprising places in the wilderness the glory of the Lord is seen in One who comes to save the people 1) For a people in Exile, Isaiah sees a vision of the Lord s salvation 2) Surprise! In the wilderness the glory of the Lord will be seen 3) Waters in the desert; a highway for God s people on which God s people will return from exile 4) God s ransomed shall return with singing and rejoicing as they experience God s salvation 5) Then: a vision: eyes of blind opened, ears of deaf unstopped, tongue of the speechless shall sing

49 James 5:7-10 James calls his readers to patience as they wait for the coming of the Lord, taking the example of the prophets who spoke the Lord s promises with strength and courage 1) At the conclusion of the letter, James gives summary instructions and encouragement to his hearers 2) The word for the day is patience! 4 times in this brief reading (7, 7, 8, 10) 3) Patience is like the farmer, who waits in light of the rains which are a sign and promise of the coming harvest 4) So our patience is in light of the sure and certain coming of the Lord 5) Expectation: the coming of the Lord is near! 6) Be like the prophets who even in suffering waited with patience for the fulfillment of the Lord s promise and continued to speak boldly the Word of the Lord

50 Matthew 11:2-11 John in prison sends his disciples to ask, Are you the One who is coming? and receives Jesus reply: See what is taking place, and blessed is the one who takes no offense in his coming. 1) Context: Jesus has come, baptized, preached -- and still John is in prison! (1) 2) Are you the One? John Sends to ask! This key question for us: Are you the One who is coming? Is Jesus the Messiah we expect or do we keep looking for another? Is our waiting one of futility? Or do we wait in hope? 3) Go and tell what you hear and see: (4) key response has to do with hearing and seeing the signs of the good news breaking out among us (cf. Isaiah) in surprising places. Hearing and seeing are key themes in this gospel we will need new eyes to see in new ways if we are to receive this Messiah 4) The signs of Jesus ministry fulfill the waiting expectations of the prophets vision (5) 5) Blessing or Offense? How will we receive this Messiah who comes? (6) Blessing (a key word in Matthew, cf. chaps 5 Sermon on Mount & 16 Peter s Confession) It is a code word for the good news of God s grace and mercy Offense (scandal, scandalize) is the opposite word of unbelief and rejection; which will it be for us?

51 6) The figure of John: a case in point (7-11) What do we see in this messenger? 7) Where is John as an example in all of this? 8) What about John s expectations and their fulfillment? 9) John expects the coming of the Messiah to be filled with judgment, with fire and brimstone (see Advent 2) 10) Instead what he sees is one whose preaching and example are ones of forgiveness, healing and mercy 11) So the real question: is this a Messiah that John or we can live with? Maybe this is too much of a surprise! 12) Matthew s story suggests that even one as great as John risks missing the promise, as he looks for justice in the wrong key and misses the kingdom when it comes ( the least in the kingdom is greater than he verse 11; this version only in Matthew!)

52 Overall Themes: 1) God acts to bring the promise of salvation even if and when we are not ready or trusting enough to ask 2)God s act of salvation in Jesus incarnation is a new act of creation in which God is fashioning a new creation of those who are called to belong to God s Son 3) This calling will take place through an obedient response of faith that is willing to accept God s unexpected incarnation and mystery of grace and mercy

53 Isaiah 7: : The prophet announces God s coming salvation in the birth of a child whose name is Immanuel God is with us. 1) The Lord instructs through the prophet: Ask for a sign! (10f.) 2) King Ahaz refuses with pious excuse (disobedience and unbelief; 12) 3) So through the prophet: Lord will give a sign anyway. God s promise will come even without our asking (cf. Luther on Lord s prayer: kingdom comes even without our asking but pray that it will come to us!) 4) Sign of promise is in a birth, and in a Name: Immanuel God is with us 5) Timing: by the time, before: things are set in motion and they will come swiftly (15-16) Hang on!

54 Romans 1:1-7 - : Paul greets his readers with a summary of the good news of the gospel in Jesus Christ 1) Called: three times (1, 6, 7) underscores God s initiating action for Paul and for us; the note of called frames the reading. 2) This calling is called the good news of the gospel (1) 3) It comes as fulfillment of God s promises (2) 4) It is focused in the coming of the Son, and in his resurrection from the dead (4) 5) Occasioned in God s grace seen in the obedient response of faith (cf. Joseph in gospel) (5) 6) For the sake of his Name (Immanuel-God with us) 7) All are called to belong to this Jesus the Christ (6-7) 8) A concluding benediction: Grace and Peace come from God and from our Lord Jesus Christ (7)

55 Matthew 1: Matthew s narrative of the birth of Jesus the Messiah, through a miraculous conception and the obedient response of a righteous Joseph Christmas now draws extremely close in this birth ( Genesis, 1:1, 18) story different and unique in its key details Joseph is father and key figure, who by naming child, obedient adopts child and so becomes part of the mystery of the incarnation; Key themes: 1) Genesis/ New creation: in original Greek, the genesis of Jesus was as follows (18) Spirit of God is present in a new working of creation that seeks to include us 2) Incarnation: the events of birth take place among the common and everyday a Joseph and Mary, hard decisions of marriage or divorce, a mysterious pregnancy, etc. 3) Faith and obedience of Joseph: imitates call stories: Joseph as righteous believer has made plans, but God calls and plans change: Joseph is model of obedient discipleship

56 4) Righteousness or justice. We are called to ask what would righteousness look like, and we are given a model in Joseph s response of obedience 5) God intervenes in the story. Is this an act of salvation, or is it just plain meddling at every stage of the story God s plan holds sway. Can we trust a dream. To trust dreams in Advent is to invite the possibility that God can do a new thing, and that obedient discipleship may transform us and lead us in ways never imagined (Joseph, case in point) 6) Fulfillment. God s intervention is not complete surprise but consistent with the promises through the prophets (cf. Isaiah: birth and name Immanuel) The birth of Jesus is not an accident but part of God s plan and promise to do mercy 7) The names: Salvation, Jesus, Immanuel the names are a sign that in Jesus God is present to bring salvation. Just imagine, if even contemplation of the promise can change the life of a righteous Joseph, then what might this Jesus do in the stories of your life and mine! 8) Signed in the presence of God s Spirit: God s presence and power evident throughout the workings of this story. Whatever happens is from the Holy Spirit (20)