BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Nov. 24, 2004
Source: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm
Morning Psalm(s): 119:145-176 [Presbyterian: 96:1-13]
Evening Psalm(s): 128, 129, 130 [Presbyterian: 132:1-18]
Old Testament: Zechariah 12:1-10
Epistle: Ephesians 1:3-14
Gospel Luke 19:1-10
Presbyterian Readings for the current day:
http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi
Zechariah begins by describing Jerusalem as “a cup of reeling for all the surrounding peoples” (Zech. 12:2). Jerusalem will be “a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it shall grievously hurt themselves” (v. 3). No longer is Jerusalem to be the victim of oppressive superpower neighbors. “On the house of Judah I will keep a watchful eye, when I strike every horse of the peoples [their enemies?] with blindness. Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God’” (vv. 4-5). There will be victory for Judah (v. 7). “The feeblest” of “the inhabitants of Jerusalem” will “be like David” (v. 8). The passage appears to describe external conflict, but perhaps also “Jerusalem’s conflict . . . with Judah itself” (W. Sibley Towner, HarperCollins Study Bible). We see “Jerusalem mourning over a prophet or king whom it has martyred” ( R. Lansing Hicks and Walter Brueggemann, NOAB).
In Ephesians, as in 2 Corinthians, Paul follows his salutation with a benediction (blessing). In other letters he follows the salutation with a thanksgiving. In Ephesians, the thanksgiving (Eph. 1:15-23) follows the blessing (vv. 3-15). This benediction reviews God’s plan of salvation, in which “he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world” (v. 4) for adoption (v. 5), redemption, which is “the forgiveness of our trespasses” (v. 7), and our inheritance (vv. 11, 13). Eventually, Paul will emphasize the fact that his gentile readers are included, not excluded (2:11-22), but in chapter 1 he provides a detailed description of God’s plan of redemption and how it applies to Christian believers.
Zacchaeus is another tax collector (as we know). Again Jesus makes a point of spending time with one of the despised persons. “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today” (Lk. 19:5). Zacchaeus becomes and example of one who is “lost” (v. 10), but who receives salvation (v. 9). His promise of restitution, paying back “four times as much,” signifies his genuine repentance.
Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.