BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Nov. 22, 2004
Source: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm
Morning Psalm(s): 106:1-18 [Presbyterian: 62:1-12]
Evening Psalm(s): 106:19-48 [Presbyterian: 73:1-28]
Old Testament: Zechariah 10:1-12
Epistle: Galatians 6:1-10
Gospel Luke 18:15-30
Presbyterian Readings for the current day:
http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi
The prophet Zechariah directs the people to “ask rain from the LORD . . . who makes the storm clouds,/who gives showers of rain” (Zech. 10:1), because teraphim [an oracular device], diviners and dreamers are no help at all (v. 2). Because the LORD controls nature, the people should turn to the one who can help them. In the same way, “the LORD alone controls history and will gather the redeemed” ( R. Lansing Hicks and Walter Brueggemann, NOAB). “I will strengthen the house of Judah,/and I will save the house of Joseph” (v. 6). God will bring back his people, “though I scattered them among the nations” (v. 9). God “will bring them home from the land of Egypt,/and gather them from Assyria” (v. 10).
Paul’s advice to seek to restore the transgressor “in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal. 6:1) reminds us of James’ encouragement to do the same (Jas. 5:10-20) in last Saturday’s lesson. We are to “Take care that you yourselves are not tempted” (Gal. 6:1). We are to “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way . . . fulfill the law of Christ” (v. 3). “All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride” (v. 4). Apparently, Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith “not by the works of the law” (2:16), does not exclude work for the Christian believer. “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith” (6:9-10).
Jesus blesses the children (Lk. 18:15-17). “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them . . . Truly I tell you, whosoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it” (vv. 16-17). Then he responds to the ruler’s question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v. 18). When Jesus quotes the Commandments, he uses the second part of the list, the Commandments referring to relations between human beings, not those referring to God. “You shall have no other gods before me,” and so on. It is perhaps going too far to say that money was his God, but it is clear that he was not yet ready to put God first in his life and values.
Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.