FRIDAY AFTER CREATION-LAST
25 October 2013
Readings:
Key Verses (using the World English Bible):
2 Cor 4:16: “Though our outward [person] is decaying, yet our inward [person] is renewed day by day.”
Mark 2:17: Jesus said, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Reflection
Last year, I read a fascinating article about how the original lectionary of the church was formulated. Most Western churches today follow the Revised Common Lectionary. You might know that this is a three-year cycle, in which one of the three Synoptic Gospels is given preference during Advent, and the “off-peak” season known as “Ordinary Time”. John is interspersed as needed during Christmas, Lent, and Easter. The idea is that the Church focus on one Gospel per year, first to honor the individual evangelist and, second, to study the nuances and intentions of his particular message.
However, the church year originally included two other seasons called “Epiphany”, between Christmas and Lent, and “Trinity”, from Trinity Sunday through the end. These seasons were certainly far from “off-peak”. “Epiphany”, meaning ‘manifestation’, focused on Jesus’ miracles or ‘manifestations’ of power. “Trinity” was a bit more obscure, occurring, as it does, after the drama of Christ’s earthly life has come to an end.
Yet according to this article, “Trinity” was structured according to the “seven deadly sins”. Week after week; year after year, then, the new Christian is shown—from Scripture—how God purges these traditional evils out of the soul, how God’s light leads us away from our old selves and into eternal union with him. If this is true, it’s certainly one of the cleverest and most subtle uses of Scripture I’ve ever encountered—and the most humble. The lack of confirmation suggests the author (or authors) wished to build up future Christians just for the sake of doing so, and not for any personal credit or gain.
I’ve been clear that I’ve based my interpretation of the Season of Creation on a scheme, which some churches currently observe. The readings for each Sunday have therefore followed the topics prescribed. However, Wednesday readings have been based on Paul’s list of eight sources of Christian strength (2 Cor. 6:6-7a), and Friday readings on Peter’s list of eight Christian virtues (2 Pet. 1:5-7). I’ve found that, in reverse order, they coincide with what the Season of Creation wishes to teach us, namely how we are to live in the world, how we are to respect one another, and care for all of God’s creation, which he daily entrusts to us.
And for the past eight weeks, we have failed at all of these. Because of our imperfect nature, we have not done all the good we could have done toward ourselves, each other, and God. But that’s okay. Jesus reminds us today that we are precisely those whom he’s calling. And, through “the spirit of faith”, we must believe that, even if outwardly we are subject to decay, corruption, and imperfection inwardly we are being healed and renewed day after day, week after week, year after year.
Prayer of the Day
Almighty and most merciful God,
your bountiful goodness fills all creation.
Keep us safe from all that may hurt us,
that, whole and well in body and spirit,
we may with grateful hearts
accomplish all that you would have us do;
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
—Collect for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 50.
Hymn: “All praise to the Lord” (“O praise ye the Lord”)
(Words: Henry Williams Baker, 1875; adapted by Joseph A. Soltero, 2013
Tune: ‘Laudate Dominum’, Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1848-1918)
All praise to the Lord!
Praise him in the height.
Rejoice in his word,
You angels of light,
You heavens, adore him
By whom you were made,
And worship before him
In brightness arrayed.
All praise to the Lord!
Praise him upon earth
In tuneful accord,
You all of new birth.
Praise him who has brought you
His grace from above.
Praise him who has taught you
To sing of his love.
All praise to the Lord!
All things that give sound,
Each jubilant chord
Reecho around.
Loud organs, his glory
Tell forth in deep tone,
And sweet harp, the story
Of what he has done.
All praise to the Lord!
Thanksgiving and song
To him be outpoured
All ages along!
For love in creation,
For heaven restored,
For grace of salvation,
All praise to the Lord!
Amen.
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