A Layman’s Take on Today’s Readings: Lectionary 638

Key

Bold = verse commented upon

Blue = comment

Highlight = direct command

Numbers 21:4-9

With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. Sirach 2:7, 12-14

Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.  Wisdom 1:10-11; Sirach 1:22-24; Isaiah 53:7 Philippians 2:14.   Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it,  (i.e., to consider, give attention to, discern) they will live.” Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. Sirach 2:18; Sirach 17:29; Isaiah 55:6-7

Psalm 78:1-2, 34-35,36-37, 38

Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter mysteries from of old.

While he slew them they sought him and inquired after God again, Remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer.

But they flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues, Though their hearts were not steadfast toward him, nor were they faithful to his covenant.

But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; Often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused.

Philippians 2:6-11

Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Contrast this with the people’s attitude in the beginning of the Numbers reading.  Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Contrast this with the result of the people’s bad attitude in the beginning of the Numbers reading.

John 3:13-17

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Sirach 2:18; Sirach 17:29; Isaiah 55:6-7

1 Peter 4:7-11

Key

Bold = verse commented upon

Blue = comment

Highlight = direct command

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Comments

1.            This passage has the same instructions Jesus gave His disciples about how to live in light of the possibility that the world may soon end. See Matthew 24:45-47; Matthew 25:14-46.

2.            One core of Peter’s instructions here—loving service to each other—is the same that Jesus, Paul, and John gave, independent of concerns about the end of the world. John 13:14-15, 34-35; Romans 12:4-13; 1 John 3:11, 16-20. We therefore ought to do those things regardless of how close we are to the end of the world.

3.            Another core of those instructions—staying close to God through prayer and reliance upon His provision—is also consistent with what Jesus taught. Luke 11:1-13 ; Luke 18:1-8; Matthew 6:25-33. 

4.            Peter’s instruction to pray tracks those of the other apostles. Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 5:15-16; 1 John 5:16

A Layman’s Take on Today’s Readings: Lectionary 440

Key

Bold = verse commented upon

Blue = comment

Highlight = direct command

Comments

1.    There are a lot of direct commands in today’s readings, but most have a common essence: love as God loves. That love is to be extended to fellow believers and all people.

2.    Another common theme among the direct commands is to focus on Jesus and be controlled/directed by, motivated by, appreciative of, and infused with Him. That will help us follow the otherwise difficult direct commands summarized in paragraph 1 above.

3.    The last paragraph of the gospel reading lays out a principle that displays God’s great wisdom and great beneficence: He provides positive, and related, reinforcements for behaviors He wants us to pursue. Although this principle is most often discussed in connection with giving, note that it is also applied here to other types of conduct (various forms of grace to others).  We see that dynamic elsewhere in scripture, again in contexts other than giving. See e.g. Proverbs 15:1 (re gentleness); Sirach 3:17-18   (re humility); Sirach 5:1  (re friendly conduct).  That is one way “his love is brought to perfection in us,” as discussed in 1 John 4:12.

Colossians 3:12-17

Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love,

that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,

the peace into which you were also called in one Body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Psalm 150:1-6

Praise the LORD in his sanctuary, praise him in the firmament of his strength.

Praise him for his mighty deeds, praise him for his sovereign majesty.

Praise him with the blast of the trumpet, praise him with lyre and harp,

Praise him with timbrel and dance, praise him with strings and pipe.

Praise him with sounding cymbals, praise him with clanging cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Alleluia.

1 John 4:12

If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.

Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well,

and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.

Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?

Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.  But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,

and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Proper reaction to "our daily bread"

Matthew 6:11 & Luke 11:3

We can have direct interaction w/ God, much like prayer, by consciously savoring & being content w/ the “daily bead” He gives us, even if (or perhaps especially when) it is different from what we want.

Conversely, we likely offend God by griping about & misusing what He gives us. That is acting like  a spoiled, ungrateful, child.