BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Nov. 4, 2004
Source: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm
Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm [70], 71 [Presbyterian: 97:1:12]
Evening Psalm(s) PM Psalm 74 [Presbyterian 16:1-11]
Old Testament: Ecclus. 44:1-15 [Presbyterian: Zephaniah 3:1-7]
Epistle: Rev. 16:12-21
Gospel Luke 13:18-30
Presbyterian Readings for the current day:
http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi
Ben Sira introduces his famous hymn to "sing the praises of famous men, our ancestors in their generations" (Ecclus. 44:1). He begins with summaries: "those who ruled in their kingdoms,/and made a name for themselves by their valor" (v. 3), "who led the people by their counsels" and "were wise in their words of instruction" (v. 4), "who composed musical tunes,/or put verses in writing" (v. 5). He is aware of omitting some, "of others there is no memory" (v. 9). But he focuses on "godly men,/whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten" (v. 10). Beyond today's reading, sections focus on Enoch (v. 16), Noah (v. 17), Abraham (vv. 19-23), Moses (44:23-45:5), and so forth, down to "Simon son of Onias" (50:1-24), who appears in tomorrow's reading.
John sees the sixth and seventh angels pour out their bowls of wrath. The "three foul spirits like frogs" (Rev. 16:13) are "demonic spirits performing signs," who assemble "the kings of the whole world for battle (v. 14) "at the place that in Hebrew is called Harmagedon" (v. 16), the "‘hill of Megiddo,' the site of several decisive battles in Israel's history" (Bruce M. Metzger, NOAB). The seventh bowl brings "a violent earthquake" (v. 18) and "the great city [Babylon, i.e. Rome] was split into three parts" (v. 19). The judgments of Revelation are moving to a climax, with the fall of Babylon (chap. 18) and the final defeat of Satan (chap. 20).
Jesus presents parables of surprising growth, the mustard seed (Lk 13:18-19) and yeast (vv. 20-21) followed by an admonition to "strive to enter [the kingdom of God] through the narrow door" (v. 24). This amounts to a warning not to reject his call, at a time when Jesus was meeting rejection in his appeal. This would be followed in Luke by Jesus' lament over Jerusalem. We know, of course, that he waits with open arms for all who will not reject his appeal. "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me" (Rev. 3:20).
Ronald D. Worden