BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Nov. 19, 2004
Source: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm
Morning Psalm(s): 102 [Presbyterian: 5 88:1-18]
Evening Psalm(s) : 107:1-32 [Presbyterian: 6:1-10]
Old Testament: Malachi 3:1-12
Epistle: James 5:7-12
Gospel Luke 18:1-8
Presbyterian Readings for the current day:
http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi
Malachi’s fourth oracle, or “disputation” “forecasts a time when covenant loyalty will be a defining trait of postexilic Yehud [Judah] (a theme throughout the book). This eschatological day will also mark the community as true worshipers of Yahweh. As such, this disputation serves as a foil bridging the third (2:10-16) and fifth (3:6-12) oracles indicting the restoration community for faithlessness to God and each other and offers a solution for that offense in the form of divine judgment resulting in the ritual purification of the people” (Andrew E. Hill, Anchor Bible). It is important to understand the meaning of this text in its Old Testament context before we, as Christians, move on to its “fuller sense” in reference to John the Baptist (Mt. 11:10; Mk. 1:2; Lk. 1:17, 76; 7:27).
Rather than the presumption and hasty action noted yesterday, James advises patience. “Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord” (Jas. 5:7). As examples of patience, he presents the farmer (v. 7), the prophets (v. 10) and Job (v. 11). He links patience to endurance (v. 11), when faced with suffering (v. 10), but connects this with the prophets. Job is “not cited as an example of makrothymia [‘patience’ NRSV] proper, but, like Elijah, of not altogether perfectly patient hypomōnē [‘endurance’ NRSV], “that gallant spirit which can breast the tides of doubt and sorrow and disaster, and still hold on, and come out with faith still stronger on the other side” (James B. Adamson, quoting William Barclay). My Greek lexicon includes “patience,” “steadfastness” and “endurance” in the definition of both words, but adds “forbearance” for the former (makrothymia) and “fortitude” and “perseverance” for the latter, the one used of Job. Throughout Job’s dialogues with his “friends,” his attitude was anything but passive submission.
Jesus begins his parable about the unjust judge by stating its point at the outset: “their [i.e. the disciples’] need to pray always and not to lose heart” (Lk. 18:1). Most of us face situations from time to time that could become disheartening, and Jesus was anticipating such circumstances to be faced by his disciples. “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (v. 8). In the situation described by Jesus, the widow certainly deserved justice. But it is only her persistence, “because this widow keeps bothering me” (v. 5), that she prevails. We could emphasize the need for justice in society, including the appointment of just judges. But Jesus is looking for persistence in our life of faith, persistence in fulfilling our calling and carrying out our mission in the world, and persistence in our hope as we look forward to his coming.
Ronald D. Worden