BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Oct. 16, 2004

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

Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm 20, 21:1-7(8-14)

Evening Psalm(s) PM Psalm 110:1-5(6-7), 116, 117

Old Testament: Ecclus. 3:17-31

Epistle: Acts 28:17-31

Gospel Luke 9:37-50

Jesus ben Sira offers good advice on humility: "My child, perform your tasks with humility;/then you will be loved by those whom God accepts" (Ecclus./Sirach 3:17). "The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;/so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord" (v. 18). We are reminded of some of Solomon's proverbs. "When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble" (Prov. 11:2). "The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,/and humility goes before honor" (Prov. 15:33). Paul exhorts the Philippians to have "the same mind" as Christ Jesus, who "emptied himself," "humbled himself/and became obedient to the point of death–even death on a cross" (Phil. 2:5, 7-8). Ben Sira continues with some more specific advice. "Neither seek what is too difficult for you,/nor investigate what is beyond your power" (Sirach 3:21). "Do not meddle in matters that are beyond you" (v. 23). "The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs" (v. 29). "Those who repay favors give thought to the future,/when they fall they will find support" (v. 31).

Acts 28 concludes with Paul's ministry in the city of Rome, under house arrest–in what some call his "first" Roman imprisonment–so, this time, he doesn't start in a Synagogue, but leaders of the Jews come to him. Paul begins by saying, "Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans" (Acts 28:17). He continues the story and brings them up to date. They agree to another meeting, at which Paul gives his Christian witness, "testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets" (v. 23). He explains the refusal of some to believe (v. 24) by citing Isaiah 6:9-10 (cited in vv. 26-28). The final two verses refer briefly to his two years of ministry (ca. A.D. 60-62). Luke's account ends there, but some believe that Paul was released for further activity. "At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them!" (2 Tim. 4:16). "I have decided to spend the winter there [Nicopolis, about 150 miles NW of Corinth, a place not mentioned in Acts]" (Titus 3:12). Paul then would have been imprisoned at Rome again, perhaps at the time of Nero's severe persecution of Christians, making them scapegoats for the fire that burned much of the city (A.D. 64). In a second Roman imprisonment, according to this view, Paul would write with certainty about his impending execution, but also of the crown of righteousness when he would meet the Lord beyond death (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

After the Transfiguration, Jesus heals a child that the disciples were unable to heal. The healing is by exorcism, as the child's condition is explained as the work of a "demon" or "unclean spirit" (Lk. 9:42, cf. v. 39). It is important not to draw the conclusion here that the cause of epilepsy is demon-possession. Mark and Luke describe symptoms (Mk. 9:18, 20, 26; Lk. 9:39, 42), but do not put a label on the boy's condition. In Matthew's account, it is the boy's father who says, "he is an epileptic" (Mt. 17:15), not Jesus. The Greek word literally means "moonstruck," and in everyday language meant conditions like epilepsy. Vincent Taylor, commenting on Mark 9:16-18, says, "The case is one of hysteria or epilepsy, afflictions which are difficult to distinguish." In any event, one should never attribute modern cases of epilepsy to demon-possession or "lack of faith." Luke continues with the second Passion Prediction (Lk. 9:44), the argument among the disciples over which was the greatest (v. 46) and Jesus' response, "the least among all of you is the greatest" (v. 48), and his response to the question about the unknown exorcist, "Do not stop h8im; for whoever is not against you is for you" (v. 50).

One lesson for today is not to judge others harshly, especially those already under affliction (e.g. epileptics). Don't "investigate what is beyond your power." Another is to welcome the child, which equals welcoming Jesus, which means welcoming God (Lk. 9:47).

Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.