BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Nov. 1, 2004
Source: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm
Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm 56, 57, [58] [Presbyterian: 5:1-8]
Evening Psalm(s) PM Psalm 64, 65 [Presbyterian 82:1-8]
Old Testament: Ecclus. 38:24-34 [Presbyterian: Zephaniah 1:7-13]
Epistle: Rev. 14:1-13
Gospel Luke 12:49-59
Presbyterian Readings for the current day:
http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi
Ben Sira praises various kinds of craftsmen, showing "high regard for the farmer [Ecclus. 38:25-26] and seal-maker [v. 27], the smith [v. 28] and the potter [vv. 29-30]" (Bruce M. Metzger & Roland E. Murphy, NOAB). "But the highest vocation," according to Ben Sira, "is that of the scribe (v. 24) who is concerned with the law, wisdom (i.e. the Writings) and prophecies . . .[i.e.] the threefold division of the Hebrew Bible)" (Metzger & Murphy, commenting on Ecclus. 38:34b-39:3). Ben Sira notes that "the wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure;/only the one who has little business can become wise" (38:24). Some of the rest of us hope to be wise as well!
In Revelation, chapter 14, we meet "the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion! And with him . . . one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads" (v. 1), not the mark of the beast (13:16-17; 14:9). They "have been redeemed from the earth" and "they sing a new song before the throne" (14:3). The "eternal gospel" is to be proclaimed "to those who live on the earth–to every nation and tribe and language and people" (v. 6). In the midst of judgment, "the wine of God's wrath" (v. 10) there is "a call for the endurance of the saints" who "keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus" (v. 12), and the promise: "Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord . . . they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them" (v. 13).
In Luke's Gospel, Jesus speaks of the end of the age. "I came to bring fire to the earth" (Lk. 12:49. He says he has not come to bring "peace" but "division" (v. 51), which is explained as division of households (vv. 52-53). Such sayings relate to the unique circumstances of the coming spiritual crisis. They can read signs of the weather (vv. 54-6) but do not "know how to interpret the present time" (v. 56). They should do the right thing before being "dragged before the judge" (v. 58, cf. vv. 57-59). We are reminded to submit ourselves to God, who is a God of justice, as well as a God of love.
Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.