{"id":19530,"date":"2010-12-12T23:24:05","date_gmt":"2010-12-13T06:24:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/?p=19530"},"modified":"2010-12-12T23:24:05","modified_gmt":"2010-12-13T06:24:05","slug":"scriptural-maunderings-for-the-3rd-sunday-of-advent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2010\/12\/12\/scriptural-maunderings-for-the-3rd-sunday-of-advent.html","title":{"rendered":"Scriptural Maunderings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a>Another Sunday of readings, another Sunday of considerations …<\/p>\n

This is a series of posts (look, ma, I have a category now!) about my reactions to the week’s reading’s in church. I attend an Episcopalian church, and the readings<\/a> are from the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, NRSV translation.<\/p>\n

Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This being Advent, the focus is all on Jesus coming and what it all means. \u00a0Isaiah is the classic prophet here (just look at Handel’s Messiah <\/em>for proof of that) and here he’s waxing lyrical, during the Babylonian Captivity, about what it will mean when God finally turns His favor on His people — either regarding a return of Israel to its Promised Land from captivity, or, as later interpreted, regarding Jesus coming to the Earth.<\/p>\n

Much of what is described is what someone living in the desert climates of the Middle East would refer to as paradise and blessing: rain and lush crops and running water and growing plants. But amidst it — in a pattern we will see for other Scripture — are to whom particular blessings will come:<\/p>\n

\n
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,<\/dt>\n
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;<\/dd>\n
then the lame shall leap like a deer,<\/dt>\n
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.<\/dd>\n

…<\/p>\n

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,<\/dt>\n
and come to Zion with singing;<\/dd>\n
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;<\/dt>\n
they shall obtain joy and gladness,<\/dd>\n
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.<\/dd>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The message here is clear: those who are suffering will no longer suffer. \u00a0Those who are oppressed, burdened, hurt by the world, shall be joyful.<\/p>\n

Epistle: James 5:7-10<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I like James. \u00a0Unlike Paul (who takes up most of the Epistles) or John (who ends the New Testament on a psychodelic note), James (usually associated with James the brother of Jesus) is down to earth and practical in his spiritual practices. He comes across as far less doctrinal than Paul, and far more related to the human condition.<\/p>\n

This passage urges patience (like a farmer for his crops) for the return of Jesus. \u00a0More notably for contemporary Christians, he urges:<\/p>\n

Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Would that fewer Christians grumbled against each other. \u00a0And would that more considered the suffering of the prophets (and other faithful across history) before playing the “Oh, we’re being oppressed!” card in response to someone disagreeing with them.<\/p>\n

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This passage continues<\/a> discussion of John the Baptist — the wild man preaching in the wilderness — vs. Jesus. \u00a0John, imprisoned, sends word to Jesus trying to confirm whether he, Jesus, \u00a0is the dude that he, John the Baptist, was preaching about.<\/p>\n

Jesus provides his bonafides of being from God:<\/p>\n

Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What strikes me here is who stands as evidence of Jesus being the one John had been preaching about. \u00a0Jesus doesn’t come in talking about how he is here to praise the pious and reward those who are secure in their earthly treasures. \u00a0Instead, his message back to John is about how he’s done good thing for the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf, the dead, the poor. \u00a0Jesus’ ministry is focused on those who are powerless, outside of society, those unjustly belittled and condemned.<\/p>\n

As today, society considered the lowest of the low there, not just out of circumstance, but out of some sort of moral judgment. \u00a0Just as today some say the unemployed are that way because of the government dole and their own personal failings, so then some considered the poor, the lame, the afflicted as suffering so because they were morally inferior. Jesus’ message here was clear: God is most interested in their comfort and redemption. \u00a0He is most focused on them, not those who are comfortable in their orthodoxy and their financial portfolios.<\/p>\n

The message continues, even more clearly:<\/p>\n

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

All I can think of in this passage is about those “dressed in soft robes,” whether they be orthodox clerics in ancient vestments of solemnity and authority, or televangelists in finely tailored suits, and whether the “royal palaces” are ancient cathedrals or modern megachurches. \u00a0From this passage, Jesus is less impressed by such trappings of material success and popularity than he is in a guy running around in crude clothing in the wilderness — so long as that guy is adhering to his message of caring for the outcast and neglected.<\/p>\n

Those who choose to speak in authority in Christian churches should consider which personage they would most resemble, if Jesus were to confront them about it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Another Sunday of readings, another Sunday of considerations … This is a series of posts (look, ma, I have a category now!) about my reactions to the week’s reading’s in church. I attend an Episcopalian church, and the readings are from the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, NRSV translation. Old Testament: Isaiah 35:1-10 This being … Continue reading “Scriptural Maunderings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[98],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-scriptural-maunderings"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19450,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2010\/12\/05\/scriptural-maunderings-for-the-2nd-sunday-of-advent.html","url_meta":{"origin":19530,"position":0},"title":"Scriptural Maunderings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent","author":"***Dave","date":"Sun 5-Dec-10 9:55pm","format":false,"excerpt":"Yet another installment looking at my own reaction to the readings we had in church (Episcopal) today. \u00a0The Lectionary is the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, and the translation is the NRSV ... Old Testament - Isaiah 11:1-10 We're in Advent, which means Much Ado about Prophecy. \u00a0In this case,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Scriptural Maunderings"","block_context":{"text":"Scriptural Maunderings","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/religion\/scriptural-maunderings"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/michael-york-john-baptist.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/michael-york-john-baptist.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/michael-york-john-baptist.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19203,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2010\/11\/14\/spiritual-maunderings-for-the-sunday-closest-to-november-16.html","url_meta":{"origin":19530,"position":1},"title":"Spiritual Maunderings for the Sunday closest to November 16","author":"***Dave","date":"Sun 14-Nov-10 11:17pm","format":false,"excerpt":"Yet another series of personal impressions from todays Episcopal readings from the Revised Common Lectionary,\u00a0Proper 28,\u00a0Year C, NRSV translation. Old Testament: Isaiah 65:17-25 Isaiah waxes lyrical over the paradise to come. I will rejoice in Jerusalem,\u00a0and delight in my people;\u00a0no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,\u00a0or\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Scriptural Maunderings"","block_context":{"text":"Scriptural Maunderings","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/religion\/scriptural-maunderings"},"img":{"alt_text":"A fragment from the Dead Sea Scrolls","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/dead-sea-scroll-fragment-300x261.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21039,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2011\/05\/15\/scriptural-maunderings-for-the-fourth-sunday-of-easter.html","url_meta":{"origin":19530,"position":2},"title":"Scriptural Maunderings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter","author":"***Dave","date":"Sun 15-May-11 11:05pm","format":false,"excerpt":"This is an occasional series of posts about the scripture read at our church and what it means to me. I attend an Episcopal service, and we are in Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary. This week's readings are particularly meaningful, as my parish church is named after the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Church & State"","block_context":{"text":"Church & State","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/politics-law\/church-state"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/good-shepherd.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19138,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2010\/11\/08\/scriptural-maunderings-for-all-saints-day.html","url_meta":{"origin":19530,"position":3},"title":"Scriptural Maunderings for All Saints’ Day","author":"***Dave","date":"Mon 8-Nov-10 9:47am","format":false,"excerpt":"This past Sunday we celebrated All Saints' Day (officially 1 November, but celebrated the Sunday following by us Episcopalians). \u00a0\u00a0 Some thoughts on the Scripture appointed (Revised Common Lectionary, Cycle C, NRSV translation). Old Testament: Daniel 7:1-3,15-18 Daniel has a prophetic dream about four beasts, which gets interpreted for him\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Scriptural Maunderings"","block_context":{"text":"Scriptural Maunderings","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/religion\/scriptural-maunderings"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20574,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2011\/03\/27\/spiritual-maunderings-for-the-third-sunday-in-lent.html","url_meta":{"origin":19530,"position":4},"title":"Spiritual Maunderings for the Third Sunday in Lent","author":"***Dave","date":"Sun 27-Mar-11 3:11pm","format":false,"excerpt":"An occasional delving into the Sunday Scripture at my church. I attend an Episcopalian parish, and the\u00a0readings are from the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A, NRSV translation. The theme this week is \"waters\" and God providing.\u00a0 Well, sort of. Old Testament: Exodus 17:1-7 This is the typical \"Israelites grumbling in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Crime & Punishment"","block_context":{"text":"Crime & Punishment","link":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/category\/politics-law\/crime-punishment"},"img":{"alt_text":"A fragment from the Dead Sea Scrolls","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/dead-sea-scroll-fragment-300x261.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18325,"url":"https:\/\/hill-kleerup.org\/blog\/2010\/08\/29\/scriptural-maunderings.html","url_meta":{"origin":19530,"position":5},"title":"Scriptural Maunderings","author":"***Dave","date":"Sun 29-Aug-10 9:19pm","format":false,"excerpt":"I've long considered doing a series of posts on scriptural readings from the Sunday Masses I go to at our local Episcopal Church. Part of it is to explore how I deal with the Bible. 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