BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Oct. 6, 2004

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

Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm 119:145-176

Evening Psalm(s) PM Psalm 128, 129, 130

Old Testament: Micah 2:1-13

Epistle: Acts 23:23-35

Gospel Luke 7:18-35

Micah speaks for the oppressed and against their oppressors. "They covet fields, and seize them;/houses, and take them away;/they oppress householder and house,/people and their inheritance" (Micah 2:2). Micah announces a taunt song that will mock the oppressors: "We are utterly ruined [the oppressors will say];/the LORD alters the inheritance of my people; how he removes it from me!/Among our captors he parcels out our fields" (v. 4). The tables will be turned on the oppressors by foreign invaders--very soon for North Israel, but eventually for Judah as well. Micah continues with sarcasm. The people want preachers who say, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink" (v. 11). (Micah has some promises of grace and redemption, but not much yet.)

When the conspiracy to kill Paul was revealed, plans were made to transfer him by night to Caesarea. The tribune's letter to the governor (procurator) Felix "delicately omits his involvement in Paul's mistreatment (see 21:31-38; 22:24-29)" (Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Harper-Collins Study Bible). As for Felix, "Contemporary historians comment on his cruelty and immorality" (Gaventa). But we know that the Lord preserved Paul for further ministry in Rome and probably elsewhere. Of one of his imprisonments, perhaps at Rome, perhaps earlier, Paul said that it "has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known . . . that my imprisonment is for Christ" (Phil. 1:12-13).

When John the Baptist's faith wavers and he inquires from prison to get reassurance from Jesus, the Lord answers, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me" (Lk. 7:22-23). In what follows he praises John and compares John's ministry to his own. He taunts "this generation" for not joining the game: "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;/we wailed, and you did not weep" (v. 32). Jesus had a sense of humor, even when dealing with serious issues. If our trust and commitment are with him, perhaps we can avoid taking ourselves too seriously, recognizing that "it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).

Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.