Proper 28 | Ordinary Time 33 - A
The tradition of "fire and brimstone" preaching runs deep. With his famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Jonathan Edwards was not the first nor the last of those who passionately develop graphic themes of judgment in preaching. Fear is a pretty strong motivating factor. I have often thought that discovering a relationship with God because of the fear of eternal damnation is the epitome of spiritual selfishness. No doubt folks turn to God in fearful circumstances all of the time. But one wonders about how much of the depth of the Gospel is missed when a preacher simply appeals to the fear factor. So much of the person and work of Christ seems to be missed when a preacher leans on another "turn or burn" interpretation of judgment or the end time. Fear of the rapture...
Wayne Brouwer
At the college where I teach in the religion department, we are just past midterm exams. I enjoy the excitement of my students each fall as they seem energized for another year of college life. By late September, however, absenteeism climbs, and some students drag themselves to class for a little nap. Life in this unreal campus world has taken on new dimensions: dating, parties, sporting events, roommate spats, dietary choices, and a host of other opportunities and maladies conspire to turn college commitments away from academics and toward all sorts of more wonderful and infinitely weirder dabblings.
Then it is time for midterm exams. Suddenly students wake up in class and ask questions -- often not so much out of thirst for knowledge but rather in fear of judgment. Notes and...
Then it is time for midterm exams. Suddenly students wake up in class and ask questions -- often not so much out of thirst for knowledge but rather in fear of judgment. Notes and...
Frank Ramirez
When people say there is peace and security, look out. Be ready! Something is coming! Deborah is ready, beneath the tree, to be a leader. Paul says to be ready, armed, and waiting. Jesus says don’t put off getting ready for tomorrow what you might regret not doing eternally. Don’t play it safe. Make your play.
Judges 4:1-7
Evidently Deborah had quite a track record as a prophet and judge, because according to the historian Josephus who wrote in the first Christian century, there was a tree named after her, where supposedly she held court. Centuries after her passing that tree still stood as a remembrance of her wisdom, decisiveness, and faithfulness.
The story opens with a repetition of the toxic cycle represented in Judges. The...
Judges 4:1-7
Evidently Deborah had quite a track record as a prophet and judge, because according to the historian Josephus who wrote in the first Christian century, there was a tree named after her, where supposedly she held court. Centuries after her passing that tree still stood as a remembrance of her wisdom, decisiveness, and faithfulness.
The story opens with a repetition of the toxic cycle represented in Judges. The...
Mark Ellingsen
Serving God his way, noting how God sometimes defies the world’s expectations.
Judges 4:1–7
The First Lesson is drawn from a compilation of ancient stories of tribal experiences under local leaders in the period from the death of Joshua to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. The stories in the book were collected for didactic purposes perhaps by the mid-8th century BC. One hundred years later, they were edited by the progenitors of the pentateuch’s D strand – edits of the patriarchal tales in light of the religious revival taking place under the reign of King Josiah. This text is part of the story of Deborah.
Judges 4:1–7
The First Lesson is drawn from a compilation of ancient stories of tribal experiences under local leaders in the period from the death of Joshua to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. The stories in the book were collected for didactic purposes perhaps by the mid-8th century BC. One hundred years later, they were edited by the progenitors of the pentateuch’s D strand – edits of the patriarchal tales in light of the religious revival taking place under the reign of King Josiah. This text is part of the story of Deborah.
Mark Ellingsen
As we come to the end of the Pentecost season with Thanksgiving on the horizon, it is appropriate that this Sunday focuses on the theme of our response to God’s goodness.
Judges 4:1-7
The First Lesson relates part of the story of Deborah (a prose/narrative version of the hymn about her in chapter 5). This book is probably a compilation of ancient stories of tribal experiences under local leaders in the period from the death of Joshua to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. These stories were collected perhaps by the 8th century BC, edited a century later by the Deuteronomist -- one of the oral traditions responsible for the Pentateuch (a 7th-century BC oral tradition emerging from a religious reform under King Josiah).
Judges 4:1-7
The First Lesson relates part of the story of Deborah (a prose/narrative version of the hymn about her in chapter 5). This book is probably a compilation of ancient stories of tribal experiences under local leaders in the period from the death of Joshua to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. These stories were collected perhaps by the 8th century BC, edited a century later by the Deuteronomist -- one of the oral traditions responsible for the Pentateuch (a 7th-century BC oral tradition emerging from a religious reform under King Josiah).
David Kalas
The phrase is not found in scripture, but it has worked its way into common parlance. We witness some unfolding providence of God, and we remark about his "strange and mysterious ways." This week we want to make note of his favorite -- and perhaps his strangest -- way of all.
The interventions of God that tend to stand out in our minds and memories are the ones that seem, shall we say, unassisted. We think of the plagues on Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the calming of the storm on Galilee, the raising of Lazarus, and so on. These are clearly miraculous intrusions of God into history and human experience. And while we may be intellectually or stylistically more comfortable with the less spectacular deeds, these are at least the kind of miracles that garner a lot of...
The interventions of God that tend to stand out in our minds and memories are the ones that seem, shall we say, unassisted. We think of the plagues on Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the calming of the storm on Galilee, the raising of Lazarus, and so on. These are clearly miraculous intrusions of God into history and human experience. And while we may be intellectually or stylistically more comfortable with the less spectacular deeds, these are at least the kind of miracles that garner a lot of...
David Kalas
In the 1970s, comedian Flip Wilson made famous a series of routines that featured the phrase "Here comes the judge!" It was meant to sound like an ominous warning, though in the context of his skits, of course, it was always light-hearted and humorous.
As we ponder the three texts that come before us this morning, however, we are presented with a much more serious prospect. This is no comic charade. There really is a judge. And he really is coming.
It seems to me that Flip Wilson was onto something though, even in his clownish portrayal. While we typically think of the criminal having to come before the judge, the image of the judge coming to the outlaw is appropriate to scripture. And for the offender, the coming of "the judge" surely does suggest something...
As we ponder the three texts that come before us this morning, however, we are presented with a much more serious prospect. This is no comic charade. There really is a judge. And he really is coming.
It seems to me that Flip Wilson was onto something though, even in his clownish portrayal. While we typically think of the criminal having to come before the judge, the image of the judge coming to the outlaw is appropriate to scripture. And for the offender, the coming of "the judge" surely does suggest something...
Our lessons for this day are not very pleasant ones. There are no warm fuzzies to be had here. Instead, they invite us to some rather unpleasant contemplation. The last Sunday of Ordinary Time (or of the Sundays after Pentecost) shifts our attention to the future. The bridge between the end of Ordinary Time and Advent is suspended by two cables: The anticipation of God's final judgment and the celebration of Christ as the King. We cannot move to the season of Advent without crossing this bridge. These lessons are also related to those for All Saints' Sunday. Like that special celebration, Proper 28 has us reading passages about the end time, the eschaton, and especially about the judgment that is to occur then.
In Luke 12 the story is told of a rich man who had more than he knew what to do with. He built great barns, stored his riches, and sat back to enjoy them. Reread this parable and you find that on the surface it is a comparison of the materialist with the spiritual person. If you were not careful you could get the idea that all things material are of no consequence and what God really wants of us is our complete attention given to things of the spirit.
Two things need to be said:
1. First of all there is no condemnation of possessions or riches here or anywhere else in the New Testament. What is condemned is the attitude of trust in such things. Everywhere you turn in the New Testament there is a balanced concern. We are not to give all our lives to the acquisition of...
Two things need to be said:
1. First of all there is no condemnation of possessions or riches here or anywhere else in the New Testament. What is condemned is the attitude of trust in such things. Everywhere you turn in the New Testament there is a balanced concern. We are not to give all our lives to the acquisition of...
Once when I was pastor of a small church, a new couple began to attend and became quite faithful. They were new to the community and belonged to another denomination. One day someone asked them why they chose not to go to the big and successful church in town, but instead chose the small struggling church in the suburbs. Their reply was that when someone from the other church had come to them, they had said, "At our church you can put on your Sunday best and your white gloves and know that you are at home."
Now I tell that story not to assault some other denomination. We have more than enough of that. I do tell it, however, to point out that there are many whose attendance at church is due to social custom, family habit, or community pressure. There are those who never miss,...
Now I tell that story not to assault some other denomination. We have more than enough of that. I do tell it, however, to point out that there are many whose attendance at church is due to social custom, family habit, or community pressure. There are those who never miss,...
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