BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Friday, Nov. 26, 2004
Source: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm
Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm 140, 142 [PCUSA: 84:1-12]
Evening Psalm(s): PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12) [PCUSA: 25:1-22]
Old Testament: Zech. 14:1-11
Epistle: Rom. 15:7-13
Gospel: Luke 19:28-40
Presbyterian Readings with Biblical Text for the Current Day:
http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi
Zechariah describes an attack on Jerusalem: “For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses looted and the women raped; half the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city” (Zech. 14:2). But Jerusalem “will be defended by the LORD, who will become king over all the earth (v. 9), [and] worshiped in Jerusalem where the nations will come in pilgrimage (v. 16)” ( R. Lansing Hicks and Walter Brueggemann, NOAB). This has been considered an end-time prophecy, and it shares some themes with the book of Revelation. “On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea [i.e. the Dead Sea] and half of them to the western sea [the Mediterranean]; it shall continue in summer as in winter.” (v. 8). A powerful ecological transformation!
Paul has urged the “strong” to respect the “weak” (Rom. 14:1-15:6), and concludes by urging each group to “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Rom. 15:7). His emphasis is upon encouragement for Gentile believers, showing that “the promises given to the patriarchs” (v. 8) are for them also. He supports that with quotations from Psalm 18:49; Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 117:1; and Isaiah 11:10). The discussion of the “strong” versus the “weak” in 1 Corinthians, chapters 8 and 10, was focused on whether to eat “food offered to an idol”; but here the issue is apparently kosher food: “Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat” (Rom 14:20). Sometimes the issues change, but it is important to see the underlying principle. “It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble” (v. 21).
Luke presents the events of Palm Sunday, the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Lk. 19:28-40). We usually associate Palm Sunday with Easter in the spring, but the praise of the crowd,
Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!
reminds of another coming (Advent), and the season that begins this Sunday. It also reminds us of the angels’ song on the night of the Savior’s birth:
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
And on earth peace among those whom he favors!
In this season that honors the Prince of Peace, let us pray for the peace of one another, and peace for our world.
Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.