The following comments are repeated with some revision and supplement here from October 23, 2004, two years ago (Saturday of the week of the Sunday closest to October 19, Year Two):

The two opening verses of today’s reading (Sirach 15:9-10) conclude a couple stanzas on “the search for Wisdom and her blessings” (Harold C. Washington, NOAB, 3^rd ed. on Sirach 14:20-15:10. “Happy is the person who meditates on wisdom,” says ben Sira, “and reasons intelligently . . . pursuing her like a hunter” (Sirach 14:20, 22a). One’s earnest efforts to gain wisdom are further described (cf. vv. 20-27). “Whoever fears the Lord . . . and holds to the law will obtain wisdom (15:1), and will receive benefits, including “the bread of learning” (15:3a) and “the water of learning” (v. 3b); support (v. 4), being exalted “above his neighbors,” and heard “in the midst of the assembly” (v. 5). Such a person “will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, / and will inherit an everlasting name” (v. 6). But warnings are included that “the foolish” and “sinners” will not obtain wisdom (v. 7), nor the arrogant nor liars (v. 8). The praise that counts comes from the Lord; it “is unseemly on the lips of a sinner” (v. 9a). Praise must be uttered “in wisdom” (v. 10a).

Ben Sira continues in a “diatribe or fictional debate” (Burton Mack, HarperCollins Study Bible, on Sirach 15:11-20), asserting that one sins by his or her own choice. “Do not say, ‘It was the Lord’s doing that I fell away’; / for he does not do what he hates” (Sirach. 15:11, cf. v. 12). What does he hate? “The Lord hates all abominations; / such things are not loved by those who fear him” (v. 13). “It was he [the Lord] who created humankind in the beginning, / and he left them in the power of their own free choice” (v. 14). The Lord would not cause his people to sin because “the Lord hates all abominations; / such things are not loved by those who fear him” (v. 13). Ben Sira tells the reader, “If you choose, you can keep the commandments, / and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice” (v. 15), and offers a version of the Two Ways theme which reminds us of Deut. 30:19: “He has placed before you fire and water; / stretch out your hand for whichever you choose” (Sirach. 15:16). In most weather situations, certainly in an arid land, you would choose water over fire. Here these represent “life and death” as the allusion to Deuteronomy becomes explicit (v. 17). Washington says,

Ben Sira does not advance a consistent doctrine of ‘free will’ (contrast v. 14b with 23:19-20 and 33:13); but here he argues against divine responsibility for sin by emphasizing human free choice (‘yetser’ in v. 14b). The Hebrew word is a technical term, sometimes used in a good sense (Isa. 26:3; 1 Chr. 29:18), but usually it refers to an evil tendency or inclination toward sin (Gen. 6:5; 8:21; cf. 2 Esd. 4:30-31). In postbiblical times, the doctrine arose of a good and an evil ‘yetzer’ that every person possesses (cf. 37:3 [O inclination to evil, why were you formed / to cover the land with deceit?]).

The reading closes with praise for “the wisdom of the Lord,” who “is mighty and power and sees everything” (Sirach 15:18), whose “eyes are on those who fear him,” and who “knows every human action” (v. 19). This God “has not commanded anyone to be wicked, / and he has not given anyone permission to sin” (v. 20).

Micah 7:1-7 (Presbyterian and Lutheran traditions–see the comments for Monday, October 16, 2006, twelve days ago.)

10:1 And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. 2 He held a little scroll open in his hand. Setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 he gave a great shout, like a lion roaring. And when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded. 4 And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” 5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and the land

who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: “There will be no more delay, 7 but in the days when the seventh angel is to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, “Take it, and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 So I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.

11 Then they said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” (Revelation 10:1-11, NRSV)

The following comments are combined with revision and supplement here from October 23, 2004, two years ago (Saturday of the week of the Sunday closest to October 19, Year Two), from May 29, 2005 (the Sunday closest to June 1, Year One), and from October 31, 2005 (Monday of the week of the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year One):

Tuesday’s reading, (Rev. 7:9-17, Oct. 24, 2006) was from an interlude between the sixth (Rev. 6:12-17) and seventh(8:1-5) seals; today’s is part of the interlude between the sixth (9:13-21) and seventh (11:14-19) trumpets. All of these, the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls of wrath to come (chap. 15-16), portend destruction, judgment and woes. There are interludes with hopeful symbols, for example, the “two witnesses” (11:3), “the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah” (11:15), “God’s temple in heaven” with “the ark of the covenant” (11:19, the woman (12:1) and the child (12:2, 4-5), the Lamb on Mount Zion with the 144,000 redeemed (14:1), and the angel with “the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth” (14:6). And so the series of seven trumpets is interrupted by visions which offer encouragement, but also announce judgment. The “mighty angel” (Rev. 10:1) “held a little scroll in his right hand” (v. 2) which, when given to John, “will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth” (v. 9). The scroll is “Sweet, because it contains God’s words; bitter, because it involves his terrible judgments” (Bruce M. Metzger, NOAB, 2^nd ed. on v. 10). “Eating the scroll, a symbolic action based on Ezek. 2:8-3:3, signifies accepting a prophetic commission” (David E. Aune, HarperCollins Study Bible on Rev. 10:9-10; cf. Jean-Pierre Luiz, NOAB, 3^rd ed. on Rev. 10:8-10). Ezekiel found that when he ate the scroll, “in my mouth it was as sweet as honey” (Ezek. 3:3). It is not said in so many words that the scroll would “be bitter to your stomach” (cf. Rev. 10:9), but on the back of the scroll “were words of lamentation and mourning and woe” (Ezek. 2:10). And we remember, of course, that, for the most part, Ezekiel’s message for Israel was rebuke for sin and announcement of disastrous judgment.

John is told “There will be no more delay, but in the days when the seventh angel is to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, as he announced to his servants the prophets” (Rev. 10:6b-7). With the scroll came another commission for John. “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings” (v. 11). “You must, in accord with the divine will, prophecy again; the second part of the book (chs. 12-22) contains these prophecies” (Metzger on Rev. 10:11). He will need encouragement and commitment as he moves on to visions of martyrs (witnesses) killed by “the beast” (11:7), war between the woman, Michael and his angels against the dragon (chap. 12), and the beasts from the sea (13:1) and the earth (13:11).

The Lord’s Prayer, The Importunate Friend at Midnight, Encouragement to Pray*
Matthew 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer		Luke 11:1-4 The Lord’s Prayer	The Didache 8:2-3 Trans. K. Lake, Loeb Classical Library
[Included with teaching on almsgiving, prayer in secret, fasting, treasures in heaven, and so forth, in Mt. chap. 6] 9 "Pray then in this way:		11:1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:	2. And do not pray as the hypocrites, but as the Lord commanded in his Gospel, pray thus:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come. (1) Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (2) 11 Give us this day our daily bread. (3) 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (4) 13 And do not bring us to the time of trial, (5) but rescue us from the evil one. [note: or from evil] (6) [note: Other ancient authorities add, in some form, For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen. (See 1 Chron. 29:11-13)]		Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. (1) 3 Give us each day our daily bread. (3) 4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. (4) And do not bring us to the time of trial.” (5) [note: Other ancient authorities add but rescue us from the evil one (or from evil) [(6)]	“Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, (1) thy will be done, as in Heaven so also upon earth; (2) give us to-day our daily bread (3) and forgive us our debt as we forgive our debtors, (4) and lead us not into trial, (5) but deliver us from the Evil One, (6) for thine is the power and the glory for ever.” 3. Pray thus three times a day.
		The Importunate Friend at Midnight Luke 11:5-8
	5 And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
Encouragement to Pray
Matthew 7:7-11		Luke 11:9-13	John 16:24; 14:13-14; 15:7
7 "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!		9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"	16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 14:13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Based on Kurt Aland, Synopsis Quattuor Evangeliorum*, 10^th ed. (1962), 267-269.

The following comments are combined here with some revision from October 23, 2004, two years ago (Saturday of the week of the Sunday closest to October 19, Year Two), and from May 3, 2005 (Tuesday of the week of the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year One):

Some have wondered why the Lord’s Prayer appears in different contexts in Matthew and in Luke. Dr. Bruce M. Metzger of Princeton Theological Seminary introduced his chapel sermon on the Lord’s Prayer at Friends Bible College (now Barclay College) a few years ago (1979). “Luke gives the occasion when Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer when they asked him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples’” (Luke 11:1). “Matthew includes it with other teachings on piety in chapter 6” (quoted from memory, perhaps not verbatim). For many, Matthew’s version is familiar from use in worship, but Luke’s version is notable for the emphasis on daily bread for “each day.” “Give us each day our daily bread” (Lk. 11:3). Dennis C. Duling (HarperCollins Study Bible), comments on Matthew 6:12: “Daily translates a rare Greek word [epiousios] that probably means bread in the morning for the rest of the day or for tomorrow.” Luke’s version translates the same Greek word in the phrase “daily bread,” but “each day,” or “day by day”(to kath’ hemeron) emphasizes continuing trust in God for meeting our needs day by day

The prayer is given above as presented in Matthew, in Luke, and in the very early second century work known as the Didache, or the Teaching of the Twelve Disciples. Matthew’s version has six petitions–count them–unless “hallowed be your name,” an ascription of honor, counts as a petition, making seven. Luke’s version has only four in the earliest manuscripts, but many of the later manuscripts, including a late “corrector” of Sinaiticus, add “but rescue us from the evil one (or from evil) (cf. NRSV note).

For the omission of the second petition in Luke, “A few ancient authorities read Your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us. Other ancient authorities add Your will be done, on earth as in heaven” (NRSV note). The “restoration” of the second and / or sixth petitions in Luke by later scribes is understandable. They were probably accustomed to praying Matthew’s form of the prayer in worship. The form of the prayer presented in the Didache apparently reflects early Christian usage, and has the six petitions.

Luke follows the prayer with teaching about persistence in prayer, illustrated by the friend who needs “three loaves of bread” in the middle of the night. Another paragraph, this time with a parallel version in Matthew and similar admonitions in John, tells us to “Ask . . . search . . . and knock” (Lk. 11:9), followed by assurance that God will hear and respond to our prayers. “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven (Mt.), the heavenly Father (Lk.), give good things (Mt.), give the Holy Spirit (Lk.), to those who ask him” (Mt. 6:11; Lk. 11:13). Luke finds ways to emphasize the Holy Spirit throughout the two volume set, Luke-Acts. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit will provide for many other “good things” in our lives. The instruction, “Ask and you will receive” (Jn. 16:24; cf. Mt. 7:7-8; Lk. 11:9-10), assumes that one will ask in accord with God’s will. The one who asks must ask in Jesus’ name (Jn. 14:14) and abide in him (Jn. 15:7). It’s not a kind of open-ended blank check.

Daily Scripture Readings
Saturday (October 28, 2006)*
Daily Office Lectionary, The Book of Common Prayer, the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A., 1979	Daily Lectionary, Book of Common Worship, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., 1993	Daily Lectionary, Book of Worship Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship, c. 1978 (2002 printing)
http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi
Unless otherwise indicated, the scripture texts quoted are from The New Revised Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers), 1989.
Saturday AM Psalm 30, 32 PM Psalm 42, 43 Ecclus. 15:9-20 Rev. 10:1-11 Luke 11:1-13 St. Simon & St. Jude: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Simon&Jude.htm AM: Psalm 66; Isaiah 28:9-16; Ephesians 4:1-16 PM: Psalm 116, 117; Isaiah 4:2-6; John 14:15-31 From the Sunday Lectionary: Psalm 119:89-96; Deuteronomy 32:1-4; Ephesians 2:13-22; John 15:17-27	Morning: Psalm 122:1-9 Micah 7:1-7 Revelation 10:1-11 Luke 11:1-13 Evening: Psalm 100:1-5	Morning Pss.: 122, 149 Ecclesiasticus 15:9-20 or Micah 7:1-7 Revelation 10:1-11 Luke 11:1-13 Evening Pss.: 100, 63
* Saturday of the week of the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost