It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Reflection on readings for September 9

God looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.
(Psalm 53:2)

Isaiah 3:1-5:30
Isaiah tells the people of Israel this parable: The owner of the land, with great effort, plants vines on a very fertile hill. He got grapes, but not the kind of grapes he had worked for. He vows to make a new start, to tear down the wall that protects the vines, to quit tending them, not to prune or hoe, and he will quit watering them.

Isaiah is trying to get them to think about how much sense the landowner's reaction makes. "Apply this parable to your own lives. God gave you this land and cared for your needs. God expected great things from you. God expected you to yield justice and righteousness. That's not what you did."

2 Corinthians 11:1-15
Paul asserts his apostleship as true, his concern for the congregation at Corinth to know and live out God's good news. He warns them against false apostles who may disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness.

How do we moderns discern which ministers are true apostles and which are disguised as such?

Psalm 53:1-6
God knows who is corrupt and who is true. Reassuring or disturbing?

Proverbs 22:28-29
Do not remove the ancient landmark
that your ancestors set up.
Do you see those who are skillful in their work?
they will serve kings;
they will not serve common people.

Prayer for Today: O Lord our God, guide us into lives that make our world a place of justice, of righteousness, of care for each other. Amen.

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