BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Oct. 14, 2004

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

Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm 18:1-20

Evening Psalm(s) PM Psalm 18:21-50

Old Testament: Jonah 3:1-4:11

Epistle: Acts 27:27-44

Gospel Luke 9:18-27

When given a second chance, Jonah preaches in Nineveh as originally commanded by the LORD. The message is simple and direct: "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" (Jonah 3:4). Apparently, without any instructions about repentance, "the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth" (v. 5). When the news reaches the King of Nineveh, he joins the fast (v. 6) and supports it with a proclamation (vv. 7-10). In biblical religion, repentance removes the threat of judgment. "When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, god changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it" (v. 10). But Jonah–the caricature of a prophet–sulks. He says he understands God's grace and mercy (4:2), but his hear is not in it. "And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live" (v. 3). The exchange about the bush which at first provided shade, but then withered, emphasizes God's lesson for Jonah.

The ship carrying Paul to Rome, adrift without tackle (cf. Acts 27:19) and in danger of running aground on rocks, the mariners tried anchors (v. 29), sailors tried to escape (v. 30), but Paul warned the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved" (v. 31). So the ship continued to drift (v. 32). Paul continues to lead, telling the people to "take some food, for it will help you survive" (v. 34). Then they "lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea" (v. 38). The chapter ends with a scramble for survival when the ship strikes a reef (v. 41). The soldiers are prevented from killing Paul by the grateful centurion (vv. 42-43), and "all were brought safely to land" (v. 44). Paul is preserved for further ministry. The Lord moves in mysterious ways . . .

Luke presents Peter's "Confession," in response to Jesus' question, "But who do you say that I am?" "The Messiah [note, ‘Christ'] of God" (Lk. 9:20), a succinct version as compared with Matthew's version, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Mt. 16:16), or Mark's, "You are the Messiah" (Mk. 8:29), or John's, "We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God" (Jn. 6:69, in a different context). Luke moves on to the First Passion Prediction, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (Lk. 9:22), and teaching on discipleship, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (v. 23). In the later parts of Jesus' public ministry, he spends more time on issues of discipleship–not on what we do to earn salvation, but on the way Christian believers do/should live in the world.

Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.