BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Oct. 15, 2004

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

Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm 16, 17

Evening Psalm(s) PM Psalm 22

Old Testament: Ecclus. 1:1-10,18-27

Epistle: Acts 28:1-16

Gospel Luke 9:28-36

The Book of Ecclesiasticus (The Wisdom of Jesus, the Son of Sira) begins with praise of wisdom. “All wisdom is from the Lord” (1:1). “Wisdom was created before all other things,/and prudent understanding from eternity” (v. 4; cf. Prov. 8:22). The author speaks of Wisdom as a person. “It is he [the Lord] who created her;/he saw her and took her measure/he poured her out upon all his works,/upon all the living according to his gift;/he lavished her upon those who love him” (vv. 9-10). “The [architectural] metaphor [‘he . . . took her measure’] imagines wisdom as a model or plan for creating the world” (Burton Mack, Harper-Collins Study Bible). But the author concurs with Solomon in Proverbs, “To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ecclus. 1:14; cf. Prov. 1:7). “The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom” (Ecclus. 1:18). “To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom” (v. 20). Wisdom is a matter of righteous living, not merely intellectual. “Unjust anger cannot be justified” v. 22). “If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments,/and the Lord will lavish her upon you” (v. 26). Some see in this image/concept of wisdom as presented in Proverbs and later Wisdom Literature, the background for New Testament understanding of Jesus Christ as the Logos (Word) and Wisdom of God (Jn. 1:1-4; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 1:15-20).

On the Island of Malta after the shipwreck, Paul amazes the local people when the viper hanging from his hand does not hurt him (Acts 28:3-6). Paul then heals a leading landowner, Publius (vv. 7-8), and others (vv. 9-10). After three months, the group joins an Alexandrian ship and travels to Syracuse (on Sicily), Rhegium (at the tip of Italy), Puteoli (close to Rome), where they “found believers,” and on to Rome. Paul is encouraged when he is met by believers from Rome at the Forum of Appius and three Taverns (v. 15). The living/confinement arrangements in Rome will allow Paul the freedom to minister–when people come to him. “Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him” (v. 16).

Coming as it does after Peter’s Confession and teaching about disciples taking up their cross daily, Luke’s account of the Transfiguration demonstrates “the meaning of Christ’s glorification through death” (G. W. H. Lampe, Peake’s Commentary). By Luke’s reference to “about eight days” (Lk. 9:28; cf. “six days,” Mk. 9:2; Mt. 17:1), he seeks “to indicate the first day of the week and to underline the relation of the Transfiguration to the Resurrection” (Lampe). This moment of revelation occurs in a context of prayer (v. 28), and reminds us of the revelations to Moses on Sinai. Allusions to the Feast of Tabernacles (v. 33), and to the overshadowing cloud which signified God’s presence in the Exodus from Egypt (v. 34) help form the setting for the voice from heaven, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” (v. 35).

Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.