• 17 • 18 Bernard Mizeki, Catechist and Martyr in Rhodesia, 1896 was an African Christian missionary and martyr. • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 Alban, First Martyr of Britain, c. 304 was the first British Christian martyr • 23 • 24 The Nativity of Saint John the Baptistis a Christian feast day celebrating the birth of John the Baptist, a prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah in the person of Jesus and who baptized Jesus. OLD TESTAMENT: 1 Samuel 15: 34 - 16: 13 (RCL) 1Sam 15:34 (NRSV) Then Samuel went to Ra'mah; and Saul went up to his house in Gib'eah of Saul. 35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel. 16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Beth'lehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." 2 Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, "I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." 4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they came, he looked on Eli'ab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is now before the LORD." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 8 Then Jesse called Abin'adab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 9 Then Jesse made Sham'mah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." 11 Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ra'mah. h/t Montreal Anglican 15:1-31 tells of God’s further rejection of Saul. He has won various wars, but in 15:10 God says through Samuel: “‘I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not carried out my commands’”. His orders from God were to utterly destroy (annihilate, in a holy war, 15:15) the Amalekites, including their possessions. But Saul has disobeyed: he has spared their king, and allowed his soldiers to keep the best of their livestock. As Samuel has turned to leave, Saul has grasped the hem of his robe, tearing it. Samuel has taken this as evidence that “the LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you ...” (15:28). Now Samuel returns home to “Ramah” (15:34) and Saul to his base, “Gibeah”. God commands Samuel to make a journey to Jesse and his family, secret lest Saul kill him. He is to appear to be on a pilgrimage. Perhaps the elders are let into the secret in 16:5: they are to sanctify themselves, perhaps wash ritually in preparation for a consecration. Jesse’s sons are presented to Samuel, the eldest first, but it is the youngest, David, whom God has chosen - and whom Samuel anoints. David has gained legitimacy as future king of Israel, but it is only in 2 Samuel 5:1-5 that he is actually made king. 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 God’s rejection of Saul begins in 13:7-14. The Israelites are facing a vastly superior Philistine army. Samuel is late in arriving to offer sacrifice; time is of the essence, so Saul offers sacrifice. Samuel tells Saul: “you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you ... now your kingdom will not continue”. Saul had no right to perform priestly functions. However, in 14:31-35 Saul rather than the priests seems to be in charge of the religious rites. [NOAB] 15:1-35: Saul is depicted as a moral and religious reprobate, unworthy of the office that he holds. [NOAB] There is probably an old story behind this chapter in which Samuel rebukes Saul for disobedience in executing the order to annihilate the Amalekites. The present text has been shaped by prophetic editing, transforming it from rebuke to rejection. [NJBC] 15:15: “Amalekites”: The name of a people traditionally descended from Esau. See Genesis 36:12. They were a wandering tribe from southern Canaan or northern Sinai which had been constantly troublesome to the Israelites: see Deuteronomy 25:17-19; Exodus 17:7-13; Judges 6:33. Deuteronomy 25:19 directs the Israelites to “blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven” when other enemies are leaving them in peace. [NOAB] 15:15: “utterly destroyed”: Deuteronomy 20:16-18 gives the reason for annihilating other peoples: “so that they may not teach you to do all the abhorrent things that they do for their gods, and you thus sin against the LORDyour God”. Both the Israelites and their neighbours attempted annihilation, usually without complete success. The Amalekites are still troublesome to David in Chapter 30. [NOAB] 15:22: “to obey is better than sacrifice”: Hosea 6:6 says of God: “I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings”. [NOAB] 15:23: “divination”: Deuteronomy 18:9-16 forbids it: “... Although these nations that you are about to dispossess do give heed to soothsayers and diviners, as for you, the LORD your God does not permit you to do so ...”. [NOAB] 15:28: “a neighbour of yours”: i.e. David. [NOAB] 15:35: There is a slight discrepancy between this verse and 19:24. [NOAB] 16:12: “ruddy”: This is a reference to David’s complexion. See also Song of Solomon 5:10-11. [NOAB] 16:13: This may be a counterpart to the anointing of Saul in 10:1. The “oil” used was olive oil. While priests (Exodus 29:7, Aaron) and prophets (1 Kings 19:16, Elisha) were sometimes anointed, the ceremony was more relevant to kingship, so that the king cam e to be called “the LORD’s anointed”: see 16:6 and 24:6. [NOAB] Ezekiel 17: 22 - 24 (Roman Catholic, Alt. for RCL) Ezek 17:22 (NRSV) Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Under it every kind of bird will live; in the shade of its branches will nest winged creatures of every kind. 24 All the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD. I bring low the high tree, I make high the low tree; I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the LORD have spoken; I will accomplish it. PSALM 20 (RCL) Psal 20:1 (NRSV) The LORD answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you! 2 May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion. 3 May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. [Se'lah] 4 May he grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your plans. 5 May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. 6 Now I know that the LORD will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand. 7 Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright. 9 Give victory to the king, O LORD; answer us when we call. 20 Exaudiat te Dominus (ECUSA BCP) 1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble, * the Name of the God of Jacob defend you; 2 Send you help from his holy place * and strengthen you out of Zion; 3 Remember all your offerings * and accept your burnt sacrifice; 4 Grant you your heart's desire * and prosper all your plans. 5 We will shout for joy at your victory and triumph in the Name of our God; * may the LORD grant all your requests. 6 Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his anointed; * he will answer him out of his holy heaven, with the victorious strength of his right hand. 7 Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses, * but we will call upon the Name of the LORD our God. 8 They collapse and fall down, * but we will arise and stand upright. 9 O LORD, give victory to the king * and answer us when we call. Psalm 92: 1 - 2, 12 - 15 (Roman Catholic) Psalm 92: 1 - 4, 12 - 15 (alt. for RCL) Psal 92:1 (NRSV) It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. 4 For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. 12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, 15 showing that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. 92 Bonum est confiteri (ECUSA BCP) 1 It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, * and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High; 2 To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning * and of your faithfulness in the night season; 3 On the psaltery, and on the lyre, * and to the melody of the harp. 4 For you have made me glad by your acts, O Lord; * and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands. 11 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, * and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon. 12 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord * shall flourish in the courts of our God; 13 They shall still bear fruit in old age; * they shall be green and succulent; 14 That they may show how upright the Lord is, * my Rock, in whom there is no fault. NEW TESTAMENT: 2 Corinthians 5: 6 - 10 (11 - 13) 14 - 17 (RCL) 2 Corinthians 5: 6 - 10 (Roman Catholic) 2Cor 5:6 (NRSV) So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord-- 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15 And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! In vv. 1-5, Paul has used a metaphor to contrast our modes of existence: now a temporary “earthly tent”, with the future permanent “heavenly dwelling” assured by God for his people. He has then used another metaphor: that of being “clothed” and “naked”. This leads Paul to write of “the body” (vv. 6, 8, 10). We are now, in relative terms, compared with our future mode of being (of which we are “confident”), “away from”, separated from, God. Now we trust (“by faith”, v. 7) that we will attain the heavenly mode; then we will see that we are fully united with Christ (v. 6) – clearly a more desirable state. Our objective, to be obedient to God (“please him”, v. 9) is the same whether we are in heavenly mode (“at home”) or in earthly mode (“away”). At the end of the current era, Christ will judge each of us on our fidelity to God while in earthly mode. We will be rewarded accordingly. Paul writes to faithful people who will receive “recompense”, (v. 10, reward), for walking the way of Christ; however, those who have done “evil” will be punished. This way consists of, while holding God in proper reverence (awe), “fear” (v. 11), trying to influence others into being Christ-like. Paul hopes that the Christians at Corinth are at peace with their “consciences”. He is on guard against those who “boast in outward appearance ...” (v. 12). These detractors seem to have considered Paul and his associates to be crazy, “beside ourselves” (v. 13), perhaps for speaking in tongues (or for Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus). May his detractors know that he speaks “in our right mind” to them! They may not think so, but “the love of Christ urges us on” (v. 14, motivates us): Christ did die on the Cross and rose again for us all, so we are all called to abandon (“all have died”) self-centeredness (v. 15) and turn to being Christ-like. There was a time when Paul saw Jesus’ conviction and death as being right, when he judged the action by worldly standards, but now he sees everyone from God’s point of view. Indeed, for those who seek to be Christ-like (“in Christ”, v. 17), Christ is risen Lord, and head of a new created order. Everything is to be viewed in a new, enlightened, way. It is one in which, through Christ bearing the burden of sin, our deviations from God’s way will not be held against us. We are to pass this message on to others, as “ambassadors for Christ” (v. 20). Verses 1-10: Continuing to think of his sufferings and constant peril, Paul uses the figures of a “tent” and a “building from God” in speaking of death and resurrection. This “building” is the “spiritual body” of 1 Corinthians 15:44-50. [NOAB] Very divergent interpretations of this paragraph have been proposed because of disagreement concerning the topic discussed. The majority perhaps see the problem as that of bodily existence between burial and resurrection and would interpret the images anthropologically and individualistically. The context, however, suggests that Paul is concerned with showing that the present sufferings are not a valid criterion of apostleship because the true home of all believers is elsewhere. The images, in consequence, should be interpreted existentially. [NJBC] Verse 1: “earthly tent”: The image highlights the impermanence and fragility of the human body. [NJBC] Verse 1: “is destroyed”: i.e. by death as the culmination of sufferings. See 4:8-9, 16. [NJBC] Verse 1: “we have”: The present tense expresses a certitude. [NJBC] Verse 1: “a building from God”: Its symbolizes a new existence rather than the resurrection body. Philippians 3:12-21 [NJBC] Verse 2: “For”: therefore is probably a better translation. [NJBC] Verse 3: “naked”: Paul hopes that the Lord will come again and that he will receive his new body before he has had to put off the old one. Verse 4: In 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, Paul expresses this thought in different words. [NOAB] Verse 4: “are still in this tent”: i.e. living in this world. [NJBC] Verse 4: “burden”: i.e of afflictions. See also 1:6; 4:8, 17. [NOAB] Verse 4: “not to be unclothed but to be further clothed”: Paul hopes that the second coming of Christ will happen before he is killed. See also 1 Corinthians 15:51 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15. [NJBC] Verse 5: “God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee”: The “Spirit” (here and 1:22), already given is an advance installment of what is in store for Christians (see also Ephesians 1:13); God will finish what he has begun (see Romans 8:16, 17, 23; Ephesians 1:14; Philippians 1:6). [NOAB] Verses 6-8: “away from the Lord”: Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:12: “... now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known”. [NOAB] Verse 13: “beside ourselves”: In 12:1-7, Paul writes of his and another person’s “visions and revelations of the Lord”. [NOAB] Verse 17: Life “in Christ” is the new sphere of existence, a totally transformed way of looking at life and the world, into which one enters through trusting in Christ. It is a “new creation”, transforming God’s people and the whole creation. [CAB] Verse 18: “reconciled”“: Paul writes in Romans 5:10: “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life”. See also Colossians 1:20 and Hebrews 1:3. [NOAB] Verse 20: “be reconciled”: i.e. accept God’s forgiveness in Christ. [NOAB] Verse 21: “he made him to be sin”: Note that Paul does not say made him a sinner. As he says in Gal 3:13, the sinless Christ bore the burden of our sin that we might be acquitted. “Sin” may mean sin offering. See also Romans 8:3 and Isaiah 53:10. Verse 21: “righteousness of God”: It originates in divine nature (see 3:5) acting to effect pardon or acceptance with God, a relationship that us not a human achievement. See Romans 1:17. As in Romans 5:10-11, reference to “reconciliation” intertwines with justification. [NOAB] GOSPEL: Mark 4: 26 - 34 (all) Mark 4:26 (NRSV) He [Jesus] also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." 30 He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. In vv. 3-8 Jesus has told a parable about sowing seed: depending on where it lands, some flourishes greatly but other seed dies, is carried off by birds, or does not grow. Then in vv. 14-20 he has interpreted this parable to the disciples: the seed is his message of good news, “the word”, the key to “the kingdom of God” (v. 11). At this time, he intends only his followers to understand. Now he tells two more seed parables. In the first (vv. 26-29), Jesus makes two points: • his kingdom will grow relentlessly unseen by us and independent of what we do; and • at the end of the era, when Christ comes again, the kingdom will be fully grown, after which Judgement Day will follow immediately. Joel 3:13 speaks of the arrival of the end-times as the time of “harvest” (v. 29). In the second parable (vv. 30-32), Jesus exaggerates to make his point: the mustard seed is small, but not the smallest; in Palestine, mustard matures to a large shrub but not a tree with “large branches”. He intends parables to be easy to remember: the image of birds nesting in a mustard shrub would remain with his audience for a long time. The kingdom of God will grow tremendously: from Jesus and a few followers, some of them outcasts from society, to larger than any can imagine. Verses 26-29: The parallel is Matthew 13:24-40. The growth of God’s kingdom in the world is beyond human understanding or control. Yet people recognize its progress and play a part in it. [NOAB] Verse 28: “of itself”: NJBC offers without visible cause. Verse 29: Joel 3:13 says: “Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great”. [NOAB] Verses 30-34: The parallels are Matthew 13:31-32 and Luke 13:18-19. The beginnings of God’s kingdom are small, but it has an inherent nature that will grow to its intended end, startlingly different in size from its beginning. [NOAB] Verses 30-32: The coming of God’s kingdom is inevitable; therefore there is no need for discouragement or impatience regarding its coming. [NJBC] Verse 32: “the birds of the air can make nests in its shade”: In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream in which he sees a tree: “The tree grew great and strong, its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the ends of the whole earth. Its foliage was beautiful, its fruit abundant, and it provided food for all. The animals of the field found shade under it, the birds of the air nested in its branches, and from it all living beings were fed” (Daniel 4:11-12). See also Daniel 4:21 and Ezekiel 17:23; 31:6; Psalm 104:12. [NOAB] [Blomberg] Perhaps the gathering of the Gentiles into the kingdom is foretold. [NJBC] Verses 33-34: Matthew 13:34-35 tells us: “Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world’”. [NOAB