Christmas and Epiphany Year A December 24, 2016 through February 26, 2017

Transcription

1 Christmas and Epiphany Year A December 24, 2016 through February 26, 2017

2 Resources: Preaching in the Year of Matthew (Cycle A) 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) Matthew Outline Themes in Matthew Christmas/ Epiphany (A) List of Readings Christmas/ Epiphany (A), Texts in Study Format: Matthew: Key Narrative Selections in Two Parts The Year of Matthew. Lessons and Themes for Year A of the Lectionary ( )

3 Matthew in Advent (1-4) Outline of Matthew

4 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)

5 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

6 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)

7 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

8 Isaiah 9:2-7: Classic prophetic passage with key themes associated with birth of Messiah 1) Parallelism of promise: darkness to light (2) 2) Images of multiplied joy: like joy at the harvest and spoils of victory 3) Because: the oppression of exile has been lifted, a people in captivity anticipate deliverance 4) For a child of promise has been born: his names signal his promise: Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace 5) Established on the throne of David 6) Agent of justice and righteousness 7) An endless reign 8) Key word of promise: The Lord of hosts will do this!

9 Titus 2:11-14 Appearance of the Savior who brings salvation and gathers a people who are zealous for good deeds 1) Grace of God has appeared bringing salvation 2) What will this salvation look like? A people who live lives of self-control and uprightness 3) Because they live in hope as they await the manifestation of God s glory in Jesus Christ our Savior 4) Glory, because he gave himself for us to redeem us and purify a people who are zealous for good deeds 5) Freed for a purpose

10 Luke 2:1-14 [15-20] The familiar and beautiful story of the birth of Jesus according to Luke Part 1 First Part of the Story 1) Tell the story: hear it again in its simple beauty and imagery, with cast of characters and heavenly scope 2) In those days: particular location and time 3) Census: movement from Nazareth to Bethlehem, from worldly insignificance, a return to heart of tradition: David 4) Expectations of a child 5) Time has arrived: a firstborn son, yet no place in the inn; contrasts of promise and poverty 6) Shepherds: doing their thing; interrupted by glory of Lord 7) Great fear meets angels word of comfort: Stop being afraid: fear is turned into joy 8) A Message of hope: Good news of great joy 9) It is for all people 10) Heart of the message: For you, a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord 11) Today, right now!! Not in some distant future 12) A sign: here on earth in a baby, not in imagination, or in the clouds of heaven 13)Confirmed by angel chorus: and a magnificent HYMN (Lukan key) 14) Glory to God, peace, because God s favor has come upon us

11 Isaiah 62:6-12 The people hold the Lord accountable to the Lord s promise: salvation comes in the promised deliverance: a Person 1) Watchmen beat on the doors of Jerusalem to hold the Lord to the promise 2) No rest for the Lord until the Lord comes through with deliverance from the enemies 3) The promise is sure: get ready the gates, clear the highway; the exiled people are coming home! 4) Zion can see salvation is on the way! 5) His reward is with him: 6) A new Holy people! They are the redeemed (bought back from captivity 7) A new name and identity: Sought out ones, No longer forsaken 8) A Restored people and city 9) Promise of recovery and restoration of a chosen people

12 Titus 3:4-7 Key statement of grace and mercy of God in the gift of our Lord and Savior The gospel of salvation in a nutshell- a mini catechism of salvation story; Why Christmas so important 1) Our savior appeared as sign of God s goodness and loving kindness: a new revelation, but consistent with God s nature 2) He saved us: the central confession, short and sweet 3) Not because of our works or righteousness 4) But through his mercy! Not reward but mercy 5) Through baptism, by a transforming renewal that is the work of God s Spirit 6) Spirit has been poured out on richly 7) through Jesus Christ who is our savior 8) So now: justified by his grace 9) We are now heirs : who live in hope of eternal life

13 Luke 2:[1-7] 8-20: Part 2 of the Story: Focused in the Shepherds Hearing of the promise, and their transformation by this Word event First a reprise: the heart of the announcement: For you, A savior, Today 1) Shepherds: doing their thing; interrupted by glory of Lord 2) Great fear meets angels word of comfort: Stop being afraid: fear is turned into joy 3) A Message of hope: Good news of great joy 4) It is for all people 5) Heart of the message: For you, a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord 6) Today, right now!! Not in some distant future 7) A sign: here on earth in a baby, not in imagination, or in the clouds of heaven 8)Confirmed by angel chorus: and a magnificent HYMN (Lukan key) 9) Glory to God, peace, because God s favor has come upon us The rest of the Story: transformed by the hearing and seeing 15)Shepherds go to see: NOT this thing but this WORD! Which has happened! 16) Lord has made it known 17 They see! And in turn they make known what had been told to them: it is a WORD event 18) The word is heard: all who hear the story are amazed 19) Mary treasures these WORDS and ponders them in her heart 20) Shepherds return to their places: but now transformed in glory and praise to God 21) They have heard and seen: Seeing and Hearing are key: and their seeing and hearing is in conformity to the word of promise which has been told them

14 Isaiah 52: 7-10 The beautiful feet of the messengers of God s good news The original context of celebration on return from exile is now applied in Christian witness to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus 1) Celebration of the good news: messengers of good news are beautiful! 2) Content of the message: peace, good news, salvation, your God reigns (God s kingdom is real!) 3) Listen up: become hearers 4) Join together in the singing of joy: for the message is already in plain sight: 5) Lord has brought comfort out of exile 6) Lord has shown his might arm of deliverance 7) All the nations shall see God s work of salvation

15 Hebrews 1:1-4 [5-12]: God s word of promise through prophets, now once and for all affirmed through the Son 1) Gods Word is central theme 2) In many and various ways: through testimony of prophets 3) Now the final Word: in the Son 4) Son: heir of all things, partner in creation (see John) 5) Image of God s glory (we beheld his glory) 6) Sustains all things by his Word 7) Purified us from sin 8) Now reigning in majesty in the heavens (work of salvation is complete!) 9) vss. 5-12: Confirm this Word: through recital of the Scriptures: You are my Son! Chosen one of God: God s Word confirms

16 John 1:1-14: John s prolog: From Word at Creation to that Word now become flesh and dwelling among us Rehearsal of themes of creation, life, light, testimony to the truth 1) In the beginning was the Word: the Word of God, Messiah, now enfleshed in Jesus, is linked all the way back to creation 2) Not one thing created without him 3) What was created was light, and life a light that shines in the darkness and is not overcome 4) One sent to testify: true light has come 5) Some did not know, receive; but to those who received he gave power to become God s children 6) A new birth: by the will and promise of God 7) Because: Word of Creation has become flesh and taken up residence among us 8) We have seen his glory; glory that belongs to God s own Son 9) Glory: because it is full of grace and truth.

17 Isaiah 63:7-9: The prophet recounts God s saving deeds for God s chosen children 1) Beginning and end (7,9) rehearse the ongoing story (days of old) of Gods gracious acts (I will recount) 2) Series of parallel assertions of God s mercy (7), are balanced (interwoven) with two becauses (7, 8) giving reasons for God s actions: Gracious deeds/ praiseworthy acts BECAUSE what he has done, great favor shown According to mercy/according to steadfast love BECAUSE they are my people/ my children 3) So, God became their savior 4) Not from a distance or through messenger: his presence saved them/ in his love and pity he redeemed them 5) God lifted them up and carried them through all the days of their story as God s people

18 Hebrews 2: 10-18: Hebrews cites the fitting nature of God s way of salvation in that the Son becomes flesh so that through death he might set free those who are in bondage to the fear of death 1) It was fitting: the way of God s salvation is sensible and necessary (10) 2) Key theme: Jesus as pioneer (leader, forerunner) of salvation (10) 3)Jesus shares with us as brothers and sisters by becoming flesh (11-14) 4) So that through death he might destroy the one who holds power of death (14) 5) By Jesus death we are set free from bondage and fear of death 6) Jesus is like us in every way, in sharing our suffering and testing, he is able to help us 7) Key theme: unity of Christ with us in his flesh and in our suffering, enables him to make a sufficient sacrifice for sin and free us as God s children

19 Matthew 2:13-23: Warned by an angel in a dream Joseph obediently flees with Jesus and Mary to Egypt to escape Herod s massacre, and returns to Nazareth when danger is past 1)Continues story of Joseph from Advent 4, with its contrast of Joseph and Herod and the geography of God s salvation through exodus from Egypt 2) God s complete control in the story of salvation in the birth and preservation of Jesus as savior Key themes: 3) Dreams, 3 times events are at direction of God (13, 19, 22) as God makes good on God s promises 4) Joseph s obedient discipleship: God commands, Joseph does (13-15; 20-21) 5) Fulfillment of God s promises (15, 17, 23); underscores surety of God s promises, but also question of if sure, then how long will suffering continue? 6)Old Testament allusions: Jesus story mirrors that of Moses and God s people, down to Egypt and return, rescue in wilderness, death of innocents, etc. 7) Joseph and Herod: Joseph is obedient, Herod (in Jerusalem and place of power) seeks to destroy God s agent of salvation 8) Sin and suffering still remain, even after Jesus has come. Matthew does not gloss over suffering 9) God s promise at risk: at every stage Jesus story takes place in a real world of events, where at each stage the promise of salvation must be preserved and/or rescued by God s careful orchestration, and by the faithful obedience of disciples 10) God s salvation is seen in the hiddenness and darkness of unseen events, and even in the dreams at night 11) Even after Christmas, evil and suffering are not suddenly banished, but we are called to hear that God s promises will have their way, and God in this Son, will indeed be Immanuel God with us

20 Overall Themes: 1 Key theme is God s continuing steadfast love in showing mercy to God s children 2) In his birth in the flesh Jesus Christ God s chosen son becomes one with and like God s children, so that as brothers and sisters we might be rescued and saved from the fear of death 3) God is in control, and in spite of the continuing reality of the powers of sin and death, God works to bring salvation for God s children

21 Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 Key proposition of Wisdom Tradition: For everything there is a season, and a Time for every matter under heaven 1) Typical poetic parallelism of key announcement of wisdom: everything has its place and time 2) Points to the earthly and limited character of human existence 3) This is not a matter of despair, but of honest appraisal of the nature of creation 4) Only God knows and controls from beginning to end 5) The goal of humans is to live within these parameters: to recognize that our sense of past and future is a gift: we have a story, and to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live 6) They will do so, if they recognize and enjoy the gifts of God that are part of creation 7) Key recognition of those who are wise: everything is a gift of God

22 Revelation 21:1-6 The promise of God s Future Restoration of Creation in a New Heaven and new Earth: God is in control as Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End Important perspectives on the promise of God amid the transitory nature of human life 1) John s vision: a new heaven and new earth, new Jerusalem 2) God s renewal of creation 3) God s dwelling is with mortals: humans as crown of creation 4) God will be with his chosen people 5) See! I am making all things new; and that s a true and trustworthy promise; all is in God s hand 6) God is alpha and omega; beginning and end

23 Matthew 25:31-46 What it s like to live faithfully in the meantime of waiting: in the passage of times and seasons for God s people 1) A parable and a vision of the coming of the Son of man 2) Gathers and separates all nations 3) The righteous to inherit the kingdom, others to eternal the eternal fire 4) Righteous On what basis: Because what you did for these little ones (hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, in prison) you were doing for me 5) Note the unconscious fulfillment of the call to care for the needs of the neighbor here and now in this world

24 Isaiah 60:1-6 Epiphany: the Day of Revelation and Light: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you 1) Announcement of the coming of the light and the glory of the Lord; all is light and revelation for God s people 2) Theme promise: out of darkness, God s people have been brought into the light 3) Nations will come to that light 4) The peoples will gather in response to the coming of the light 5) Camels will come and cover you (paired with visit of wise men) 6) Bringing gifts of gold and frankincense (gifts of the Magi) 7) All will come to praise the Lord for the Lord s gifts

25 Ephesians 3:1-12 Paul speaks of the economy of God s grace: the working out of God s plan for us in Christ Jesus Themes are mystery (3, 5, 9) and revelation (3, 5, 10) 1) The story of God s grace is a mystery that has been made known by revelation 2) Through prophets and apostles guided by the Spirit 3) Content: that Gentiles have become fellow heirs and members of the one body, sharers of the promise in Christ Jesus 4)All was so that the wisdom of God s purpose in Christ might be made known 5) Through Christ we have access to God in confidence through faith

26 Matthew 2:1-12 Traditional Epiphany Reading from Matthew: The Visit of the Magi 1) In time of King Herod 2) Jesus born in Bethlehem 3) From get go, two kings are contemplated 4) How will it play for the king in Bethlehem and the king in Jerusalem 5) Herod plots; the magi come to worship and bring gifts 6) Meanwhile the star orchestrates events for visitors, both real and pretended 7) And warned by a dream, the magi avert Herod s plotting 8) Divine planning & faithfulness have the last word in the story 9) What are the sings of Light in our Dark days & world? 10) Where are those who helps us see the signs of God s coming salvation?

27 Isaiah 42:1-9 God s covenant promise is reaffirmed through the faithful actions of God s servant to bring forth justice for God s chosen and for all the nations 1) Revelation: here God s servant is introduced: chosen, faithful, God s delight, the agent of justice, carrier of God s Spirit 2) Ironic contrast: the servant is soft, humble, tender; yet faithful and the agent of justice (2) one who will not be crushed until justice is established 3) Justice: a key theme and mark of servant s faithfulness (4 times, 1,3,4,6) 4) Reassertion of God s identity as one who makes the covenant promise: I am the Lord (6, 8) the Creator whose Spirit breath enlivens and sustains God s people 5) God has called, kept and given his covenant people as a light to the nations (6) 6) God s people, like the servant are called, and sent with a purpose: to open eyes, set prisoners free, bring them out of darkness into light 7) A final reminder: God s promises are sure. Both the past and the future are in the hands of God; in same way as in the past, God will bring about new things

28 Acts 10:34-43 Peter preaches the Resurrection Message of the Forgiveness of Sins for all people to the Centurion s household in Caesarea 1) Central message: God shows no favorites 2) Promise is for all people ( in every nation ) 3) Key promise in Christ is the gift of Peace 4) Because Jesus is Lord 5) The story of Jesus from baptism on; preaching, healing, death 6) Final victory: But God raised him from the dead on third day 7) We are witnesses sent to preach this good news 8) Our common witness: everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sin in his name 9) Christ s resurrection is made real in the promise forgiveness for all

29 Matthew 3:13-17 John consents to baptize Jesus to fulfill all righteousness, and a voice announces God s pleasure in this beloved, chosen Son 1) Then Significant timing: just when John s activity seems so successful 2) Significant Geography: from Galilee to the Jordan, in the wilderness 3) John s reluctance: would have prevented (cf. Joseph s decision to divorce Mary) (14) 4) I need. John assumes he knows the way of repentance, righteousness and God s salvation plan, but John s plans are overturned 5) 3-fold reference to baptism underscores its importance at this point in Jesus story 5) To fulfill all righteousness Righteousness has to do with God s plan of salvation in this one who comes as savior; 7) Jesus submits obediently to God s marvelous grace 8) This is my Son: words recall Isaiah, and God s promise of God s servant chosen to bring justice for all nations 8) Heavens open for him : clear public announcement of God s good pleasure at this chosen Son marks this as revelatory of God s presence and promise

30 Overall Themes: 1) God will remain faithful to God s covenant promise to bring about justice 2) God s chosen people are called to be a light to the nations 3) God s covenant promise will be seen especially in the coming of God s servant, God s chosen one, through whom God will faithfully exercise God s creative power through the Spirit 4) Jesus baptism is revelatory event that signals God s designs of grace and mercy that are made known in this Messiah 5) The promise of Jesus Messiah, seen at his baptism, is fulfilled in God s raising of Jesus from the dead

31 Isaiah 49:1-7: God s servant Israel is called and chosen to be a light of God s salvation to all nations 1) Listen! The words of Lord s promise are spoken 2) It s about the Lord s servant, here that servant is Israel (3): the Lord called me; God s people are called to exercise God s plans for salvation (3 times we hear of servant, 3,5,6) 3) in my mother s womb (2 times, 1, 5): God s providence, intention to shape God s servant for God s purposes 4) he named me holds purpose and identity 5) he made me : the servant is trained, prepared to exercise God s plan and purpose 6) But I said (4) the servant is ambiguous: despair at vain labor, and yet renewed affirmation of the cause of the Lord 7) So now the Lord says 5) a renewed affirmation of the call to restore Israel as a light to all nations: 8) A Salvation that stretches to the ends of the earth! (6) 9) Thus says the Lord: affirms the promise once again (7) 10) The nations shall see and respond in worship because of the Lord 11) The Lord is faithful, and this faithful Lord has chosen you!

32 1 Corinthians 1:1-9: Paul greets his beloved community at Corinth and assures them of their calling through God s grace and faithfulness (First of six Sunday sequential reading of 1 Corinthians) Typical Pauline letter structure: here salutation/greeting & thanksgiving sections Greeting: 1) Paul: called as servant of Christ Jesus 2) By the will and purpose of God 3) In community: along with Sosthenes our brother 4) To those in Corinth: also called into community with all those who bear the name of Christ 5) Content: Grace and Peace from God and from Lord Jesus Christ Thanksgiving: 1) Thanks for you 2) And a reason: because of grace of God given in Christ Jesus 3) Signs: in every way you are enriched (irony, given the occasion: in speech and knowledge of every kind ) 4) You are not lacking: you have every gift that the Spirit has to offer!? (7) 5) Promise: the Lord Jesus will keep on strengthening you until the end 6) Because God is faithful: and it is God who has called you into this fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 7) The reading begins and ends with Jesus Christ the Lord, the framing holds everything that Paul has to say together. 8) A signal of Paul s favorite phrase: being in Christ

33 John 1:29-42: John points to Jesus as the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world 1) Reading divides into two parts: the next day (29-34; 35-42) each with announcement of Jesus as the lamb of God (29, 36) 2) Part 1: John s testimony: Behold (NRSV here ) the lamb of God 3) theology: who takes away the sin of the world 4) This is the one: who baptizes with the Holy Spirit 5) I have seen and have testified: this is the Son of God 6) Part 2: John points disciples to Jesus: Behold (NRSV look the lamb of God (36, verbatim repeat of verse 29) 7) Disciples hear and follow Jesus; immediate response 8) Jesus invitation: Come and see ; and they came and saw again immediate response (39) 9) And move to witness; they find and say: We have found the Messiah! 10) Brought Simon to Jesus: and Simon is given new identity as disciple: you shall be called Cephas (42) 11) Testimony, call, response, and then new testimony and identity of disciples who respond to the call of Jesus, the Messiah

34 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

35 Isaiah 9:1-4: Isaiah foresees a new day of freedom from foreign domination, as a move from darkness to light 1) The days of foreign domination are seen as a time of gloom and anguish (former times, 1) 2) But a new day (latter time) is coming in which the God will once again make the land glorious 3) A poetic vision: doubled reference to move from darkness into light (2) 4) The nation will grow again (multiplied) and be returned to joy (3) 5) Because the yoke of foreign domination will be removed and replaced by freedom from oppression (4)

36 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Paul appeals to the community at Corinth to cease divisions and claim the unity which they have in Christ Jesus (Second of six Sundays in 1 Corinthians) 1) Appeal to community (brothers and sisters) in the name of Christ Jesus 2) Let go of divisions and be united in the same mind and purpose (10) 3) Reports of party spirit, a divided community choosing sides and leaders (11-13) 4) Even baptism is used as a mark of division rather than pointing to unity in Christ (14-16) 5) The counter image of the message of the gospel, not wisdom or argument, but the power of the cross 6) The message of the cross points to the power of God for salvation

37 Matthew 4:12-23 After John s arrest Jesus begins ministry in Galilee, teaching, preaching, healing, and calling first disciples Context: John s preaching of repentance, followed by Jesus baptism to fulfill all righteousness; the time is ready 1) After John s arrest (12) John s ministry at end; now is a new time of ministry of Jesus 2) Jesus withdraws : in Matthew implies intent and purpose; ministry begins in Gentile territory of Galilee; the message is for all people! 3) In fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah, 4) in location and effect: light dawns on those who now dwell in darkness (same word as the star for the wise men) 4) Jesus preaching mirrors that of John: repentance; kingdom of heaven is at hand; joins theme of righteous obedience to coming of the kingdom 5)Call of first disciples: two carefully mirrored stories, heightened by their verbal symmetry, and the immediate response of following (18-22) 6) Summary of Jesus preaching ministry (23) with important ordering that sets stage for Sermon on the Mount (chap 5-7) and for outline of chaps 5-9): Teaching (no content specified), preaching (good news of kingdom), healing (every disease AND every sickness!) 7) Verses (omitted) importantly signal success of Jesus ministry: fame and healing of every kind; and great crowds follow him from everywhere (Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and even beyond the Jordan!)

38 Overall Themes: 1) Key theme is the move from darkness into light because of the action of God s deliverance of the people from bondage 2)Jesus ministry and mission in the proclamation of repentance and the coming of the kingdom is immediately successful 3) That when Jesus calls, his disciples respond by following is telling of the power and success of the message of the gospel that comes in his ministry 4) When Jesus appears, people everywhere respond to his call and follow

39 Micah 6:1-8 The word of Lord through prophet puts the people on trial: give an answer regarding the record of the Lord s treatment and the people s response 1) The scene is that of a courtroom Hear what Lord says, plead your case 2) Israel called to testify, with mountains and earth called as witnesses to the proceedings (2) 3) At issue: what has Lord done to merit the unfaithful response of the people? Answer me!, give an account (3) 4) But before people can answer, Lord gives his own testimony: a recital of the Lord s actions on behalf of the people: exodus, redemption from slavery, protection; all the saving acts of the Lord 4-5) 5) So what shall be the people s response? what kind of offerings in return? Fancy calves or rams or oil, even personal sacrifice? 6) No this is what the Lord desires: What is good, what the Lord requires: To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God 7) Mirrors the summary of the double command of the Torah: to love God with the whole heart, and to love the neighbor as the self

40 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Paul argues that the message of the cross is God s true wisdom in which the power of God is made known through weakness and folly. (Third of Six Sundays in 1 Corinthians) 1) The message of the cross is the power of God to those who are being saved (18) 2) The wisdom of the cross offers a reversal: True wisdom and foolishness are contrasted: What world sees as wisdom, is folly, and what appears as folly is really God s wisdom (19-20) 3) That reversal is seen in the preaching of cross which has power to save those who trust/believe in its message (21) 4) Paul s central message: Christ crucified is the power and the wisdom of God (23-25) 5) Paul calls for hearers personal testimony to confirm this consider your own calling as example of this truth 6) You are examples of how God chooses the weak to shame the strong, the lowly to bring down those who boast (27-29) 7) God is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, and the occasion of all boasting: in him is our wisdom, our righteousness, our holiness, and our redemption

41 Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus begins his teaching to his disciples on the Mount: beginning with the promise of God s blessing and the call for a new kind of kingdom righteousness in which hearing and doing are grounded in faithful obedience and prayer (The Sermon begins this Sunday, and will occupy us for the remaining Sundays of Epiphany: with the theme of Jesus teaching as the revelation of God s promise and mercy made known in him) The setting: great crowds follow Jesus as mark of his successful ministry in all of Galilee and Jerusalem regions: Israel and Gentiles (4:25) 1) On a mountain top and disciples come to him An attitude of teaching and obedient response sets the stage (1) for the Beatitudes that begin and set the theme for the whole of the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus teaching ministry as a sign of God s blessing for all people 2) Jesus began to teach them (linear verb suggests not only a one time, but the beginning of an attitude and practice of teaching that will continue, and of disciples who will continue to hear and receive his teaching, 2)

42 Blessing, continued: 3) Blessed a key word for the whole of Matthew s gospel: here blessed 9 times (= 3 x 3, the numbers and symbolism perhaps important image of completeness and God as the initiator. Blessing is an active word that implies that God is the one who is here the subject or actor 4) The first blessing: has to do with the kingdom of heaven not a program to fulfill, but about the promises of God; in the repeated refrains blessing touches all areas of life 5) Especially seen in the themes of kingdom (3, 10, 12), righteousness, mercy, peacemaking, purity of heart (cf. loving God with one s whole heart) 6) The only appropriate response to such blessing and the promises of God is to rejoice (12) because God s blessing is a sign of God s people who belong to the kingdom of heaven, because their lives have been marked by and are signs of the kingdom of heaven as it takes shape in their lives. 7) The key note of blessing makes clear that the reward is not something earned, but rather something that God gives to God s people

43 Overall Themes: 1)The response that Lord looks for is not fine offerings, but an obedient response seen in ones who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God 2) Central saving act of God in Christ is seen in the power of the cross, which is God s true wisdom for those who have been called 3) In Jesus the Messiah, the blessing and promise of God are made real in the coming of the kingdom of God as the sign of God s mercy on all people, and as an occasion for rejoicing

44 Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) The prophet calls the people to account for the actions of fasting and worship that are not matched by righteous actions of justice for the poor and the oppressed 1) Shout out!. Announce: the people are called to account for their sins (1) The issue is righteousness: actions that need to conform to the practices of worship 2) as if the people s duplicity: they act as if they were doers of righteousness, but in reality they forsake the Torah of God, while just going through the motions of worship (2) 3) And still they wonder why God does not hear and respond, when their worship is just self-serving, while they continue to oppress, and mistreat the working poor (3-5) 4) This is the Lord s fast: breaks bonds of injustice, feed the hungry, assist the poor, clothe the naked, and especially your own families (6-7) 5) Then : (9): when actions and worship correspond, it will be like the dawn of light from darkness, and the beginning of healing 6) And the glory of the Lord will become your shield and your protector 7) You shall call and the Lord will answer with his promise of presence: Here I am.

45 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) Paul s preaching is not in lofty wisdom, but in the simple direct witness to Jesus Christ as the crucified one which was accompanied by the Spirit s power. (Fourth of Six Sundays) 1) Paul testifies to his own example among the Corinthians not lofty words of wisdom, but testimony to Jesus Christ as the crucified one (1-4) 2) That preaching was accompanied by demonstrations of the Spirit s power (4) 3) Faith rests not on human wisdom, but on the power of God (5) 4) There is a time for wisdom, but a wisdom that is hidden in the ways of God and God s plan of salvation (7) 5) Such wisdom is only revealed through the Spirit of God (10-11) 6) Assertion: we have received the Spirit of God, and with it comes understanding of the gifts that God has bestowed on us (12)

46 Matthew 5:13-20 In confirmation of God s blessing (beatitudes) Jesus affirms that we are salt and light; then he describes the new righteousness of the kingdom that fulfills God s Torah The reading is in two parts: I: 13-16; II: Part I: 1) You are salt; You are light! Affirmation continues the Blessings of God in opening of Sermon: not be, but you are! 2) God s blessing is part of the essence of God s people as much as salt and light are part of the essence of being salt and light 3) In the same way (16)- those who have been blessed will show forth that blessing in good works that give glory to God Part II: kingdom righteousness 1) Jesus coming is for the purpose of fulfilling God s Torah, as confirmed also by prophetic witness. 2) Key Matthew themes: righteousness, and fulfillment, and kingdom (3 times, 19, 19, 20 signals importance) 3) Jesus states the key inter-relation of righteousness of the kingdom and the commandments of the Torah 4) Comes right at beginning of the Sermon: and sets kingdom righteousness in connection with the blessing of God 5) Kingdom righteousness fulfills God s promises, and points to hope for the full coming of the kingdom 6) Unless your righteousness exceeds: true full righteousness always remains a matter of hope, to be fulfilled in the coming of the kingdom 7) Such coming righteousness always comes as a new reality that challenges and threatens the signs of the old order, that tries to depend on external performance or actions (20) such as that of the Pharisees.

47 Overall Themes: 1) The theme is righteousness, and its relation to the keeping of the covenant in a way that worship and actions are consistent 2) Through the power of the Spirit we receive the gifts of God that enable understanding of God s plan, especially in the good news of the cross of Christ 3) God s blessing in the coming of Christ calls for and promises a new righteousness in which our actions demonstrate what it means to be salt and light in the world, as signs of the kingdom of God come among us.

48 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Moses calls people of Israel to a renewal of covenant fidelity, to choose life that belongs as the heritage of God s promises 1)Part of Moses final address to people with his call to continue in the covenant promises (chaps 29-32) 2) Key theme is the choice: life or death (15) 3) Observe the commandments (love the Lord your God and walk in his ways) and live (16) And share in the blessings of the land of promise 4) OR: turn away, do not listen, serve other gods and you will die (17) And forfeit the land of promise (18) 5) Summons to the people: Choose life! So that you and children my live (19) 6) And dwell in the land of the promise made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (20)

49 1 Corinthians 3:1-9- Paul returns to address the issue: squabbling over who is most important in the community (Fifth of six Sundays) 1) And so: marks a return to address the presenting issue of the letter: things are not going well in Corinth, with infighting and jealousy (3-4) 2) Such actions are not an example of maturity, but of infants who are not yet ready for solid food : Paul chastises them for acting in fleshly ways, not in the ways of the Spirit (2-3) 3) Instead we are all servants (diakonoi) (5) through whom God works to bring about faith 4) It is not us, but God who gives the growth (6-7) 5) Model of Christian community: God s servants, working together, as God s field, in which it is God who is doing the building (9)

50 Matthew 5: Jesus in the Sermon, now gives a series of concrete example of the new kingdom righteousness that challenges and radically reshapes traditional ways in light of the promises of God (Part 1 this Sunday, Part 2, for Epiphany 7) 1) Readings for this Epiphany 6 and 7 are part of Series of six balanced statements of Jesus ( You have heard it said but I say ) (21-48) 2) Jesus sets new vision of kingdom righteousness that both fulfills and radically presses old traditions of Torah 3) First on anger and last on loving enemies frame the whole with the issue of love (22, 44) 4) This Sunday: issues are anger (21-26), adultery (27-30), divorce (31-32), swearing oaths (33-37) 5) All have to do with relationships and they call for a restoration and caring for those relationships with a radical call for reconciliation and wholeness 6) God s commands of the Torah and the righteousness of the kingdom call for concern and care for the other, that mirrors God s concern for all of creation, and the kingdom will not acquiesce to any second-rate accommodations 7) The whole presses to the conclusion that calls for a righteousness that is perfect as the heavenly father is perfect (teleioi, the word at its heart means fulfilled, complete, reaching the goal) 8) God s righteousness is goal-directed for the sake of the restoration and sustaining of creation

51 Overall Themes: 1)As people of God we are called to faithfulness in response to God s covenant of promise 2)True maturity in Christ calls us to actions of humility as servants who work mutually for the common good, in a planting or building that belongs to God 3) God s blessing calls us to a new righteousness that is directed toward wholeness in the loving and care for all of God s creation, including the neighbor

52 Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 Moses receives the Law (Torah) for the people of Israel and charged with speaking the law to the people, beginning with establishing a relationship between a holy God and a holy people 1) Setting is the giving of the Law by the Lord through Moses 2) Key theme: I AM the Lord, your God (occurs at least 7 times in these 18 verses) the repeated refrain sets context for the hearing of aspects of lives that illustrate holiness in dealings with family and neighbor 3) People are called to be holy in the same way as God, the Lord is holy; 4) Points to the intimate covenant relationship in which God and God s people evidence a common holiness 5) The law calls for relationships of justice and caring for the neighbor: For parents, the poor, the foreigner/alien, wages, the disabled, the hungry, : key theme is acting with justice and care 6) Culminates in the summary command: you shall love your neighbor as yourself, which is picked up as the summary of the Torah in the later tradition

53 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, Paul continues to address the divisions at Corinth by establishing a basis for community in Christ and the indwelling of God s Spirit (Sixth of Six Sundays reading of 1 Corinthians) 1) Paul continues to address the divisions in the church at Corinth, evidenced in squabbling over leadership and loyalties 2) Key beginning restated: all we have is by the grace of God (10) Picks up themes stated in the opening thanksgiving of the letter (1:1-9) 3) There is a partnership in the laying of foundations for life: 4) The central foundation is Jesus Christ: that foundation is not one of any human doing, but by the action of God: it is already done (11) 5) The gift of God s Spirit dwells in God s people: key image: we are the temple in which God s Spirit is already dwelling and at work 6) That Spirit makes real and present the wisdom of God and removes any reason for individual boasting, since that gift belongs equally to all 7) A fantastic claim: all things belong to you! (21) And restated for emphasis (22) 8) Founded in a fantastic unity that encompasses all of reality: death or life; present or future are all caught up in this reality 9) In sum: A relationship of unity in Christ: you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God (23) All room for boasting or divisions are removed in this great unifying claim

54 Matthew 5:38-48 Jesus Sermon continues with its series of concrete example of the new kingdom righteousness that challenges and radically reshapes traditional ways in light of the promises of God (Part 1 last Sunday (see notes on Epiphany 6), Part 2 now, for Epiphany 7) 1) Readings for this Epiphany 6 and 7 are part of Series of six balanced statements of Jesus ( You have heard it said but I say ) (21-48) 2) Jesus sets new vision of kingdom righteousness that both fulfills and radically presses old traditions of Torah 3) First on anger and last on loving enemies frame the whole with the issue of love (22, 44) 4) This Sunday: issues are eye for an eye no retribution (38-42), loving, not hating the enemy (43-47) 5) The last of the series is particularly telling: rather than hatred and vengeance, the new righteousness calls for loving the enemy and intercessory prayer (for forgiveness and healing) on behalf of all who persecute. 6) Such is the behavior that identifies the children of God (45) 7) A Key motif is seen in God s nature and God s extravagant giving to all of God s creation: he makes the sun and rain shine on all: the unrighteous and the righteous alike 8) So the call is to a holiness that goes beyond returning love to those who love you (46) 9) All have to do with relationships and they call for a restoration and caring for those relationships with a radical call for reconciliation and wholeness 10) God s commands of the Torah and the righteousness of the kingdom call for concern and care for the other, that mirrors God s concern for all of creation, and the kingdom will not acquiesce to any second-rate accommodations 11) The whole presses to the conclusion that calls for a righteousness that is perfect as the heavenly father is perfect (teleioi, the word at its heart means fulfilled, complete, reaching the goal) 12) God s righteousness is goal-directed for the sake of the restoration and sustaining of creation 13) The whole imagines a relationship: like father, like children; a transformed people, conformed anew to the image of their Father (see Matt 19:21)

55 Overall Themes: 1) God s people are called to acknowledge the Lord God as their Lord 2) This calls for a deep relationship with God 3) And a modeling of a holy life in all aspects of life in the world acting with justice and care on behalf of the neighbor 4) The central foundation for life in community has already been laid by the action of God in Jesus Christ 5) That foundation has been established through the gift of the Spirit s indwelling presence in the community of faith 6) The gift of God s kingdom is to call and inspire God s children to a life that imagines and conforms to the image of the Father, and extravagant mercy that gives gifts to all of creation, summarized in the perfect love of the neighbor

56 Exodus 24:12-18 Moses Receives the Law on Mount Sinai. In the presence of God s glory that surrounds him like a cloud 1) God calls Moses to come up on the mountain; place of the Lord s presence and anticipation of the giving of the gift of the Torah for God s people, for their instruction (12) 2) So Moses responds obediently to the Lord s call (13) 3) Cloud covers the mountain; sign of God s presence 4) Moses waits for six days, and on the seventh Lord calls out of the cloud; patience for the Lord s address (16) 5) Lord s appearance is like a devouring fire 6) Moses enters the cloud and is with the Lord on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights (symbolism of the numbers)

57 2 Peter 1:16-21 Peter speaks of the witness to Jesus Christ in the interpretation of the scriptures; it is not of human origin, but comes through the inspiration of God s Spirit 1)Witness to Jesus Christ is not a matter of clever myths (of human derivation) 2) But originates in experience of eyewitnesses to the glory of God in Jesus the Christ (16-17) 3) Key experience at the transfiguration, and the hearing of the voice of God: This is my Son: a divine revelation on the mountain (17-18) 4) The prophetic promise of the scriptures is thus confirmed by the testimony of God on the mountain (19) 5) So interpretation of the scriptures which point to the actions of God in Christ Jesus is not a matter of human origin, but arises from the experience of people who have been moved by the inspiration of the Spirit (20) Peter reflects on the importance of the transfiguration experience to create witnesses to the truth of Jesus Christ, and as the foundation of the faithful interpretation of the scriptures that bear witness to the gospel that has come in his name

58 Matthew 17:1-9 The Transfiguration account according to Matthew The story occurs in all three Synoptics (Mark, Matthew, Luke) all basically following Mark s lead as to setting and context, but each with a few distinctive thematic variations For all, Jesus transfiguration is a window to the presence and greatness of God that have drawn near in Jesus ministry and a prelude to the coming passion and death in Jerusalem 1) Setting: follows Mark closely: after six days, just after Jesus first prediction of the passion and call to take up cross and follow (16:21-28; cf. Mark 8:31-9:2) Now Jesus takes his disciples up to a high mountain (key place of revelation for Matthew, cf. Sermon) 2) Jesus Appearance changes; talking with Moses and Elijah; Matthew revises Mark here, putting figure of Moses first (3) no indication of subject matter 3) Figure of Peter is enhanced, uniquely addresses Jesus as Lord! And says, It is good to be here: let s build three tents for you, Moses, and Elijah (removes reference to Peter s sleepiness and not knowing what to say! (4) 4) Cloud overshadows them: and now voice speaks: this is my Son, the chosen one, listen to him (as in Mark) (5) Matches the voice at Jesus baptism declaring Jesus as God s beloved Son 5) Matthew adds comment on disciples! As at Jesus baptism Disciples hear voice! (cf. 3:17) and respond with great fear (6; as in the boat, cf. 8:26-27) 6) But Jesus touches them and tells them to arise and stop being afraid!

59 Matthew 17:1-9 The Transfiguration account (continued) 7) Now Back to Mark s outline: And suddenly Jesus is alone 8) And as they come down the mountain Jesus instructs them not to tell anyone until after the Son of Man rises from the dead (9) not if, but when The mirroring of Jesus baptism puts emphasis on the identity of Jesus Messiah as God s sign of the coming of the kingdom This revelation of Jesus as Messiah thus frames the season of Epiphany, First and Last Sunday, and also signals the event of baptism as a key sign of God s choosing and sending of the Messiah as the way of salvation and the coming of the kingdom With the concluding comment, Jesus also links baptism with the coming resurrection, and with this story coming right after Jesus foretelling of the passion and resurrection thus points to the way of salvation as it is focused in the death and resurrection of Jesus In Jesus story all is happening according to God s purpose. As we end the season of Epiphany and prepare for the Journey of Lent, we see that As surely as the Elijah of promise has already come in the ministry and death of John the Baptist, so the coming death of the Son of Man will be the occasion of the fulfillment of God s promises.