yeah. right. – a reflection on John 1:43-51

January 4, 2012
by rick
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Christology / Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Year B
Valley Forge Sky

A winter sky over Valley Forge. Photo by Rick Morley.

The following is a reflection on John 1:43-51, the Gospel Lesson appointed for January 15th, 2012, the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, according to the Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also a version of the Prayers of the People for All Epiphany, and a reflection on the Hebrew Bible Lesson for the same day, 1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20.

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

In the modern idiom, Nathanael said something akin to, “Yeah, right.”

“Pfft.”

“Whatever.”

In contrast to Nathanael’s bland incredulity, Philip looks to be the picture of faith. In Philip’s mind he’s already put Jesus together with Moses and the prophets. He’s already got him pegged.

Of course, the only thing that John has told us at this point is that Jesus said, “Follow me,” to Philip.

Well, that’s not much to work with, now is it?

Two little words, and Philip is set and ready to go with exegesis in-hand.

Now, one might say that Philip discerned within Jesus, in that first meeting—by that first gaze into the eyes—that Jesus was the One who had come to save the world. But, it sounds at least a little fishy to me.

He’s just a little too sure, for my taste.

He sounds like the seed who fell on rocky soil. He shooted up with great promise at first, but is there really a root system to hold him up yet? Read More

Book Review: A Good and Perfect Gift, by Amy Julia Becker

January 2, 2012
by rick
comments 4
book review

A Good and Perfect GiftIt’s a story as old as ministry itself.

You begin a ministry to someone, to a group of people, to a certain place and population—fully expecting that YOU are going to serve THEM.

Bless their little pea-pickin’ hearts. Won’t they be lucky.

And then, before you even know what hit you, you end up realizing that it’s YOU that has been blessed, and served, and ministered to. Whenever that happens I’m always caught off guard.

And then I can’t believe that I’ve been caught off-guard AGAIN.

I think Jesus knew this about ministry. I think it may have been why, when on the night before he died he told his disciples to wash each others feet. It wasn’t just so the washER would be able to serve the washEE – but that both would be blessed by the experience.

I recently downloaded A Good and Perfect Gift to my Kindle, and, even between all the busy-ness of the holidays and traveling with the family over-the-river-and-through-the-woods, I could barely put it down. I found myself talking about it with most every one who I sidled up to. I kept reading passages aloud to my wife.

More than once I had to covertly wipe my eyes, because I could no longer read the words in front of me.

My eyes were too full. Read More

handling sin: a reflection on Mark 1:4-11

December 30, 2011
by rick
comments 3
Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Pentateuch / Temple
Mattie at Starbucks

My youngest daughter, Mattie, at Starbucks.

The following is a reflection on Mark 1:4-11, the Gospel Lesson for January 8, 2011 – the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord.

Also on this site is a Prayers of the People for All Epiphany.

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

They had ways of dealing with sin. Explicit ways. Biblical ways.

The exact treatment for sin differed by who did the sinning, what the sinning was, and whether or not the sin was intentional.

But, the basics were the same: you went to the Temple and made a sacrifice. You just followed the laws as written in Leviticus, and that was that. Read More

the feast of the Holy Name

December 26, 2011
by rick
comments 5
Christology / Exodus / Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament

After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

And he was called Jesus.

It’s a peculiarity that Christianity as we know it came through the furnace of the Latin speaking Roman Empire that we call the Son of God “Jesus.”

Unless the Angel Gabriel spoke in Latin to the Virgin Mother, he told her to name him “Yeshua,” or “Joshua.”

Recovering the Savior’s Hebrew name we can find riches previously unavailable to us.

For “Joshua” is both a harkening back, and a glance down the road, all at once.

“Joshua” should immediately recall the great patriarch, who picked up Moses’ mantle. It was Joshua who finished Moses’ job. It was Joshua who finished the journey of the Exodus.

It was Joshua who brought the Children of Israel into the Promised Land.

Let that sink in for a moment.

And, “Joshua,” or “Yeshua,” has meaning to. It means “God saves.”

In a name, “Joshua,” and it’s Latin cousin “Jesus,” both points back to the saving acts of God in ages past AND points forward to the saving acts which will in years to come (after his circumcision and naming) occur on Golgotha and in an empty tomb.

A rose by any other name would still be a rose. But, this rose (e’re blooming?) has a name which is meant to signal to us all who He is, Who sent Him, Who acts, and who will save us all.

The Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

December 12, 2011
by rick
comments 2
Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Soteriology
Morning Stars Sing

The moment of Incarnation – when once again the morning stars sing together with all the heavenly host. Acrylic on canvas. Rick Morley.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

God created every form of life that swims in the deep, which flies in the sky, and which walks on the land.

God created us, molding us out of the dust of the ground, and breathing God’s holy breath into us. And, God created us in God’s image—that we might bear the Holy Image in all the world.

God spoke to individuals, and God blessed families. God flooded the earth, made a promise never to do that again, and then God made a promise to Abraham and his descendents. God promised to be our God, and to claim us as His own people.

When we were enslaved, God liberated us. When we we without a home, God gave us a land. When our homeland was devastated, he built it up again.

God sent us patriarchs, and matriarchs, and judges, and sages, and prophets, and kings…

Over and over again God inserted Himself into our history, and made His story our story, and our story His story.

But, even with all of those over-and-over-agains, it is hard to shake the in-and-out nature of God’s relationship. God would come—for sure!—but, then He’d seem to go for a while again.

He was always there, but his Presence seemed to come and go with fits-and-starts.

I think that awkward fits-and-starts thing is part of the awkwardness of living on this side of Eden. Read More

prayers of the people for advent 4b

December 11, 2011
by rick
comments 3
Prayers of the People

These prayers are based largely on the Hebrew Bible Advent lessons for Year B. The body of the prayers will stay the same through Advent, but the initiating and concluding prayers will change, week by week.

Celebrant
In the hushed anticipation of your coming, O Lord, let your will be done with us according to your word, that we might be vessels of your Presence, and eager to pray:

Intercessor
O God, in days to come the mountain of your house will be established, and your joy shall reign. We pray for the church (especially…), that you might teach us your ways and that we might walk in your paths.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

Out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and you, O God, shall judge between the nations. We pray for our nation, and all nations, that your peace would be manifest in every corner of the earth.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In your Kingdom, O Lord, wolves lie down with lambs and children play with serpents without fear. We pray for the sick, the suffering, and those in distress of any kind (especially…); that you would heal all injuries, comfort all grief, and settle all wrongs.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In your Kingdom, O Lord, even the wilderness and dry land are glad and rejoice. We pray for those who rejoice this week as they celebrate their birthday (especially… and anniversaries…); that they might obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing might flee away.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In the fulness of time, O God, you sent your son, to be born of our sister Mary. And his name was Emmanuel: God With Us. We thank you for your Presence with us, and we pray that you might be always present with those whom we love but see no longer.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

Intercessor
O Christ, come upon us and anoint us; have mercy upon those who stand in awe of you in every generation, and hear our prayers; Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

gutsy faith, greater than the angels – a reflection on the Annunciation

December 5, 2011
by rick
comments 4
Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament

 

Annunciation

"Annunciation" Rick Morley, 2011.

The following is a reflection on Luke 1:26-38, the Gospel Lesson appointed for December 18th, 2011, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also
• a version of the Prayers of the People for Advent 4B.

She was twelve. Maybe thirteen.

That was the typical age of betrothal in her day. And, this little twelve-year-old was betrothed to a man.

I remember being twelve. It’s a great age. It’s also a difficult age. Everything changes almost every day. The ground moves under your feet with the constancy of waves on a beach.

Each change just comes, one after another. Before you’ve adjusted to one change, one more sweeps over you. And no force can stop them.

Read More

prayers of the people for Advent 3b

December 1, 2011
by rick
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Prayers of the People

These prayers are based largely on the Hebrew Bible Advent lessons for Year B. The body of the prayers will stay the same through Advent, but the initiating and concluding prayers will change, week by week.

Celebrant
In the hushed anticipation of your coming, send us out as witnesses to your light, so all might believe through your son; that we may be ready for your coming, and eager to pray:

Intercessor
O God, in days to come the mountain of your house will be established, and your joy shall reign. We pray for the church (especially…), that you might teach us your ways and that we might walk in your paths.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

Out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and you, O God, shall judge between the nations. We pray for our nation, and all nations, that your peace would be manifest in every corner of the earth.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In your Kingdom, O Lord, wolves lie down with lambs and children play with serpents without fear. We pray for the sick, the suffering, and those in distress of any kind (especially…); that you would heal all injuries, comfort all grief, and settle all wrongs.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In your Kingdom, O Lord, even the wilderness and dry land are glad and rejoice. We pray for those who rejoice this week as they celebrate their birthday (especially… and anniversaries…); that they might obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing might flee away.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In the fulness of time, O God, you sent your son, to be born of our sister Mary. And his name was Emmanuel: God With Us. We thank you for your Presence with us, and we pray that you might be always present with those whom we love but see no longer.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

Intercessor
O Christ, come upon us and anoint us, that the brokenhearted would be healed, the captives would find liberty, your favor would be upon us all, and that you would hear our prayers; Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

ain’t highfalutin – a reflection on John 1:6-8, 19-28

November 30, 2011
by rick
comments 3
Gospels / Lectionary / New Testament / Paul
Madonna and Child

Madonna and Child by Lorenzo Veneziano (ca. 1365 AD). The MMA. Photo by Rick Morley

The following is a reflection on John 1:6-8, 19-28, the Gospel Lesson appointed for December 11th, 2011, the Third Sunday of Advent, Year B according to the New Revised Common Lectionary. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Hebrew Bible Lesson for the same day, and
• a version of the Prayers of the People for Advent 3B.

There was a man sent from God…

That phrase hasn’t sat well with me for a while now: “sent by God.” There’s just something…foreign about it.

I use the term “call” all the time—probably every sermon! We’re called by God to be a certain kind of people. I was called by God to ordained ministry.  The parish I serve is called to a certain outreach ministry. I was called to serve St. Mark’s as rector. Et cetera, et cetera.

I wouldn’t dream though of saying that I was sent by God to St. Mark’s. That just seems wrong. Read More

prayers of the people for Advent 2b

November 29, 2011
by rick
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Prayers of the People

These prayers are based largely on the Hebrew Bible Advent lessons for Year B. The body of the prayers will stay the same through Advent, but the initiating and concluding prayers will change, week by week. On this site there is also
• a reflection on the Hebrew Bible Lesson for Advent 2b, and.
• a reflection on the Gospel Lesson for the same day.

Celebrant
In the hushed anticipation of your coming, bring your people your most gracious comfort and the strength to be heralds of glad tidings; that we might be ready for your coming, and eager to pray:

Intercessor
O God, in days to come the mountain of your house will be established, and your joy shall reign. We pray for the church (especially…), that you might teach us your ways and that we might walk in your paths.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

Out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and you, O God, shall judge between the nations. We pray for our nation, and all nations, that your peace would be manifest in every corner of the earth.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In your Kingdom, O Lord, wolves lie down with lambs and children play with serpents without fear. We pray for the sick, the suffering, and those in distress of any kind (especially…); that you would heal all injuries, comfort all grief, and settle all wrongs.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In your Kingdom, O Lord, even the wilderness and dry land are glad and rejoice. We pray for those who rejoice this week as they celebrate their birthday (especially… and anniversaries…); that they might obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing might flee away.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

In the fulness of time, O God, you sent your son, to be born of our sister Mary. And his name was Emmanuel: God With Us. We thank you for your Presence with us, and we pray that you might be always present with those whom we love but see no longer.

Come Lord Jesus, and hear our prayer.

Intercessor
O Christ, hear our prayers; and when you come among us baptizing as with fire, may we, your Church, be ready to meet you and find our home in you. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.