Readings for June 3 2012

Grace and Peace from God and Jesus Christ through the presence of the Holy Spirit,

How’s that for a Trinitarian greeting. The Holy Trinity is not Biblical, per se, but grew out of an understanding that came because of believers’ experience of the presence of God in their lives. There is no Bible passage that lays out a doctrine of the Trinity; only a series of passages that point to it. Some of those passages are in this week’s lection on Trinity Sunday.

First, however, an announcement. Mike Turner, a local Browerville man who has had some success in Nashville and Southern California with his gospel singing and guitar picking will be with us once again this coming Sunday. You are invited to hear him at Peace United Church – South on Sunday, June 3, 2012, at 10:30 AM. A free will ministry donation will be taken to support Mike’s work.

Our readings this week are:

Isaiah 6:1-8 – The first person (the word “person” is far from accurate) of the Trinity is God. In Isaiah’s vision, he is taken to the throne room to meet God. (Again, “throne room” is not accurate for God does not live in a place. Just remember, this is a vision.) There are winged creatures that each have six wings, two of which cover their “feet” which many believe to be a euphemism for “genitals”. These creatures shouted/sung praises to God who is seated on the throne. Isaiah feels totally overwhelmed and unworthy but one of the creatures brings a burning coal, touches it to Isaiah’s lips to remove his sins. God needs a messenger and Isaiah volunteers. The rest of the chapter is God’s words against the people: because they won’t see make them blind and because they won’t listen make them deaf.

Psalm 29 – The psalmist calls on the heavenly creatures to give glory to God and then describes the power of God’s voice.

Romans 8:12-17 – The third “person” of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit. In this short section of Romans Paul does not so much describe what the Spirit is as he describes the result of having God’s Spirit with us. The result of having the Spirit which God gave and Jesus sent is that we are God’s children. Yes, you and I are brothers and sisters and we have a brother in Jesus.

John 3:1-17 – The second “person” of the Trinity is Jesus. This passage is the first of three appearances of Nicodemus in the Gospel of John and it contains the most often quoted verse in the New Testament (if not the whole Bible): John 3:16. Throughout this passage it feels like Nick and Jesus are talking past each other. What does it mean to be born “anew” or “again” or “from above”? Nick thinks in physical terms which he knows to be impossible. Jesus is speaking in a new way of being in relationship to God. In an allusion to Numbers 21:9 Jesus says that his being “lifted up” will bring salvation to humanity. In a narrow sense this is a prediction of his crucifixion. In a larger sense it is about his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. Now, as for verse 16, this has often been called the gospel in miniature. As a stand-alone verse, it is wonderful but I think it gets even better if it is read along with verses 17 and 18. God is not about judgment but salvation. We do the judging and we do it well. Those who follow God and Jesus are filled with God’s Spirit (love) and in turn love others as they are loved. This love is salvation and eternal life. Those who do not believe do not need to be judged by God for they have already judged themselves with the choice they made.

Have a wonderful week reading God’s Word and having the Word of Life fill you with love.

Readings for May 27, 2012

This coming Sunday is Pentecost! According to “Acts of the Apostles” the Holy Spirit overcame the disciples and wonderful things started happening through them. Pentecost was not, however, a “Christian” religious holiday. It was a Jewish holiday which celebrated the spring harvest 50 days after Passover. The Jewish holiday is known as Shavuot, or the festival of the weeks. Typically, the 10 Commandments are read at synagogue during Shavuot. This year it is celebrated on May 26 to May 28. You can find more information at Chabad.org.

Our readings for this week are:

Acts 2:1-21 – The disciples were all in one place in Jerusalem, but where? We presume that they met at the same place where they had their last meal with Jesus, the “Upper Room”. What did they hear? What did they see? And, most importantly, what did they begin to do? Jerusalem was filled with visitors for the celebration of Shavuot. Where had the visitors come from? Who became the preacher? What scripture lesson did he use. The sermon goes to verse 36 and the results of the sermon is recorded in verses 37-41. How many people became members of the new community?

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b – What has God done? Why do the creatures wait? What does the breath of God do? The Hebrew word for breath, “ruach”, is also translated as “wind” and “spirit”. How long will the psalmist praise God? The first half of verse 35 is left off because the lectionary only wants to emphasize the positive in this reading and 35a is too much of a downer.

Romans 8:22-27 – What is all of creation doing and why? What do we believers wait for according to Paul? What do we have when we are saved? Why does the Spirit come to us? What does the Spirit do for us?

John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15 – The Greek word used in this passage about the Spirit of God is “parakletos” or “Paraclete” and is variously translated as “Comforter”, “Helper”, “Advocate”, “Counselor”, “Companion” and in a few other ways. I prefer “Advocate” because God’s Spirit, along with all of the other things it does, defends us from the “Accuser” which is what the word “satan” or “hasatan” means. In verse 15:26, what does the Spirit do? In verse 16:8, what will the Spirit show the world? This passage, 16:8-11, is very interesting and you should spend some time reflecting on it. Why is the world wrong about sin? (The answer seems clear, but puzzling non-the-less. See John 9:41.) Why is the world wrong about righteousness? And why is the world wrong about judgment? Again, the answers seem puzzling. What else will the Spirit of Truth do when it comes to us?

May the Spirit of the Lord, the Comforter, Helper, Counselor, Companion and Advocate, guide you in your readings this week and in all that you do.

Readings for May 20, 2012

I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s day with either your children or your mother or both. This week we are honoring our graduates and we have 3 who are matriculating from Long Prairie Grey Eagle High School: Tyler Mollner (PUC), Lesley Roe (GEUMC), and Sara Roe (GEUMC). We wish them the best as they pursue further education, jobs and/or careers this summer, fall, and beyond.

There is one prayer request for this week. Josh Johnson, who is a nephew of Darryl Bruder (a member of GEUMC), is the married father of four and the co-owner of Riverside Meats between Pillsbury and Swanville. On Sunday afternoon his smokehouse exploded while he was near or in it. Josh suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his back, hands, arms, parts of his face and one ear. He is at one of the hospitals in Minneapolis (HCMC?). Becky, wife of Darryl, asks that we all pray for his healing.

This is our last week in the first letter of John, next to the last week in Acts, and we have two more readings in the Gospel of John following this Sunday.

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 – We jump back to the beginning of Acts. Jesus has been lifted up to heaven and the disciples are without direction. In our reading, the disciples choose some one to replace Judas (the verses that are skipped are about Judas’ gruesome death) to bring their ranks back to twelve. What were the qualifications for the new disciple? Who were nominated? What was their prayer? How did they choose? It was generally believed that God controlled the outcome of everything so rolling the dice to choose someone was an acceptable way. Would you roll the dice to choose someone for such an important position?

Psalm 1 – In short: the righteous who follow the law of the Lord shall prosper and the way of the wicked will perish. How are the righteous described; what are they like?

1 John 5:9-13 – I think the summary of the entire letter of 1 John occurs in verse 12: “The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have God’s Son does not have life.” Verse 13 is John’s reason for writing: so that we might have _______________ (fill in the blank). Doesn’t this remind you of that famous verse from the Gospel of John, “For God so loved . . .” If you want a true puzzler or head scratcher read verses 16 and 17. What do you think might be “the sin that results in death”? Or, is there a sin that God cannot or will not forgive? I don’t think anyone has come up with a satisfying explanation.

John 17:6-19 – John 17 is Jesus’ prayer to God just before he is arrested. The chapter is divided up into three readings over 3 years to be read in each lectionary year. Verses 1-5 in Year A; our verses in Year B; and 20-26 in Year C. They are also divided into the subject matter of Jesus’ prayer: about his glory in doing God’s will; for his disciples; and for future disciples. What is the relationship between Jesus and God? What has God given Jesus? What has Jesus given to the disciples? What has he done for them? In Chapter 18, verse 31, Pilate asks Jesus, “What is truth?” In Jesus’ prayer this week, what is the answer to that question? What is Jesus’ request to God about the disciples?

Have a great week loving God and serving your neighbors. According to 1 John, they are the one and the same.