BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Oct. 23, 2004

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

Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm 30, 32

Evening Psalm(s) PM Psalm 42, 43

Old Testament: Ecclus. 15:9-20

Epistle: Rev. 10:1-11

Gospel Luke 11:1-13

Ben Sira argues in a "diatribe or fictional debate" (Burton Mack, HarperCollins Study Bible) that one sins by his or her own choice. "Do not say, ‘It was the Lord's doing that I fell away';/for he does not do what he hates" (Ecclus. 15:11). "It was he [the Lord] who created humankind in the beginning,/and he left them in the power of their own free choice" (v. 14). The Lord would not cause his people to sin because "the Lord hates all abominations;/such things are not loved by those who fear him" (v. 13). Ben Sira tells the reader, "If you choose, you can keep the commandments,/and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice" (v. 15), and offers a version of the Two Ways theme which reminds us of Deut. 30:19: "He has placed before you fire and water;/stretch out your hand for whichever you choose" (Ecclus. 15:16). In most weather situations, certainly in an arid land, you would choose water over fire. Here these represent "life and death" as the allusion to Deuteronomy becomes explicit (v. 17).

The series of seven trumpets is interrupted by visions which offer encouragement, but also announce judgment. The "mighty angel" (Rev. 10:1) "held a little scroll in his right hand" (v. 2) which, when given to John, "will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth" (v. 9). The scroll is "Sweet, because it contains God's words; bitter, because it involves his terrible judgments" (Bruce M. Metzger, NOAB). "Eating the scroll, a symbolic action based on Ezek. 2:8-3:3, signifies accepting a prophetic commission" (David E. Aune, HarperCollins Study Bible). John will need encouragement and commitment as he moves on to visions of martyrs (witnesses) killed by "the beast" (11:7), war between the woman, Michael and his angels against the dragon (chap. 12), and the beasts from the sea (13:1) and the earth (13:11).

Dr. Bruce M. Metzger of Princeton Theological Seminary introduced his chapel sermon on the Lord's Prayer at Friends Bible College (now Barclay College) a few years ago (1979?). "Luke gives the occasion when Jesus taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer when they asked him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples'" (Luke 11:1). "Matthew includes it with other teachings on piety in chapter 6" (quoted from memory, perhaps not verbatim). For many, Matthew's version is familiar from use in worship, but Luke's version is notable for the emphasis on daily bread for "each day." "Give us each day our daily bread" (Lk. 11:3). Dennis C. Duling (HarperCollins Study Bible), comments on Matthew 6:12: "Daily translates a rare Greek word [epiousios] that probably means bread in the morning for the rest of the day or for tomorrow." Luke's version translates the same Greek word in the phrase "daily bread," but "each day," or "day by day"(to kath' hemeron) emphasizes continuing trust in God for meeting our needs day by day.

Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.