Wow, I really need to post more!

I notice that I haven't posted since early December, 2009. I am very delinquent in my duties. I now resolve to post at least weekly. To do that, I will post here some lectionary notes that I send out weekly to the people of the churches I serve. I will also post my monthly newsletter column that I write for "The Messenger"

The intent of the lectionary notes is not to give in depth commentary or interpretation, but to stimulate you to read the passages.

Here are the lectionary notes for Sunday, August 29, 2010.

Jeremiah 2:4-13 - Think of this passage as a courtroom scene. The Lord is the plaintive accusing Judah and Jerusalem of breaking their contract (covenant). Verses 4-11 is the Lord's direct accusations and questions. Verses 12-13 is an appeal to the heavens (the judge or the jury?) to listen to the Lord's case against his people.

Psalm 81:1, 10-16 - Verse 1 is the Psalmist's praise of God and verses 10-16 is God's plea for Israel to listen to and follow him. Verses 14-16 include an incentive for Israel to follow.

[Alternate readings: Sirach 10: 12-18 and Psalm 112. Sirach will be found in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but not in Protestant and Jewish scriptures. Verse 18 in Sirach is interesting: "Pride was not created for human beings, or violent anger for those born of women."]

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 - You might just as well read the entire chapter. There is no central theme of this chapter just a series of admonitions of things all Christians should do: love, hospitality, remember prisoners, honor marriage, don't love money, remember your church leaders and imitate their faith, watch out for strange teachings, [a short comparison between temple sacrifice and Christ's sacrifice], look for the coming city of God, praise and confess God, do good, share what you have, obey leaders, and pray for us. Good things for all Christians to remember.

Luke 14:1, 7-14 - Verse 1 sets the who, what, when and where of the following section: Jesus and the leader of the Pharisees, a dinner, on the Sabbath, and at the leader's house. The skipped verses are very similar to last week's reading from Luke 13:10-17 which is a healing on the Sabbath. You would think that the subject of verses 7-11 is about how to make yourself look good at a dinner party, but note that Luke calls it a parable. Is this a parable on "the first will be last and the last will be first"? Verses 12-14 are about true hospitality. It is easy to have a banquet for friends, but what about inviting the homeless and hungry to dinner?

May these readings enliven your interactions with our Lord. Praise be to God!