BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Oct. 5, 2004

    Source: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm

Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm [120], 121, 122, 123

Evening Psalm(s) PM Psalm 124, 125, 126, [127]

Old Testament: Micah 1:1-9

Epistle: Acts 23:12-24

Gospel Luke 7:1-17

Micah tells of the LORD's coming in judgment: "the mountains will melt under him/and the valleys will burst open,/like wax near the fire,/like waters poured down a steep place (Micah 1:4). He applies it to Samaria (vv. 5-6), the capital city of the northern Israelite kingdom that would be destroyed by the Assyrian army in 721 B.C., and also to Jerusalem: "It has reached to the gate of my people,/to Jerusalem (v. 9, cf. v. 6). The Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib, had Jerusalem under seige in 701 B.C., but Jerusalem was miraculously spared (2 Kgs. 18-19; Isa. 36-37). Micah stresses God's judgment here, but later in the book promises mercy and salvation.

After the Sanhedrin's interrogation of Paul ended in confusion, some Jews joined in a conspiracy to kill him. But Paul's nephew learned of the plot and told Paul, who told him to tell the tribune. And plans are made to transferr from confinement in Jerusalem to confinement in Caesarea, "kept under guard in Herod's headquarters" (Acts 23:35). We see the hand of God protecting Paul in trying circumstances.

Luke reports two miracles of Jesus, healing the centurion's servant at a distance--"Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof . . . but only speak the word, and let my servant be healed" (Lk. 7:7)--and raising from the dead the son of the widow at Nain. When he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" (v. 14), "The dead man sat up and began to speak" (v. 15). In one case, the account closes with Jesus marveling at the faith of this Roman centurion (v. 9); the other account closes with amazement, "A great prophet has risen among us!" (v. 16). The centurion's faith puts others to shame for their lack of faith. We are reminded to keep trusting in Jesus.

Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.