28 Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is generally identified with Thaddeus, and is also variously called Jude of James, Jude Thaddaeus, Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus 29 James Hannington, Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1885 30 John Wyclif, Priest and Prophetic Witness, 1384 was an English Scholastic philosopher, theologian, lay preacher,[2] translator, reformer and university teacher at Oxford in England, who was known as an early dissident in the Roman Catholic Church during the 14th century 31 Paul Shinji Sasaki, Bishop of Mid-Japan, and of Tokyo, 1946, and Philip Lindel Tsen, Bishop of Honan, China, 1954 November 1 ALL SAINTS 2 Commemoration of All Faithful Departed 3 Richard Hooker, Priest, 1600 was an English Anglican priest and an influential theologian. 4 OLD TESTAMENT: Joel 2: 23 - 32 (RCL) Joel 2:23 (NRSV) O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. 24 The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you. 26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 28 Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 30 I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. 32 Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls. Jeremiah 14: 7 - 10, 19 - 22 (alt. for RCL) Jere 14:7 (NRSV) Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name's sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you. 8 O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night? 9 Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot give help? Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us! 10 Thus says the LORD concerning this people: Truly they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them, now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. 19 Have you completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but find no good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead. 20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the iniquity of our ancestors, for we have sinned against you. 21 Do not spurn us, for your name's sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us. 22 Can any idols of the nations bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for it is you who do all this. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 35: 12 - 17 (alt. for RCL) Sirach 35: 15b - 17, 20 - 22a (Roman Catholic) 12 Give to the Most High as he has given to you, and as generously as you can afford. 13 For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold. 14 Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; 15 and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him there is no partiality. 16 He will not show partiality to the poor; but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged. 17 He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan, or the widow when she pours out her complaint. 20 The one whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, and his prayer will reach to the clouds. 21 The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and it will not rest until it reaches its goal; it will not desist until the Most High responds 22 and does justice for the righteous, and executes judgment. Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is different from the above. PSALM 65 (RCL) Psal 65:1 (NRSV) Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed, 2 O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come. 3 When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions. 4 Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple. 5 By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. 6 By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might. 7 You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples. 8 Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy. 9 You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. 11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. 65 Te decet hymnus (ECUSA BCP) 1 You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; * to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem. 2 To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come, * because of their transgressions. 3 Our sins are stronger than we are, * but you will blot them out. 4 Happy are they whom you choose and draw to your courts to dwell there! * they will be satisfied by the beauty of your house, by the holiness of your temple. 5 Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness, O God of our salvation, * O Hope of all the ends of the earth and of the seas that are far away. 6 You make fast the mountains by your power; * they are girded about with might. 7 You still the roaring of the seas, * the roaring of their waves, and the clamor of the peoples. 8 Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs; * you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy. 9 You visit the earth and water it abundantly; you make it very plenteous; * the river of God is full of water. 10 You prepare the grain, * for so you provide for the earth. 11 You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; * with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase. 12 You crown the year with your goodness, * and your paths overflow with plenty. 13 May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, * and the hills be clothed with joy. 14 May the meadows cover themselves with flocks, and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; * let them shout for joy and sing. Psalm 84: 1 - 7 (alt. for RCL) Psal 84:1 (NRSV) How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. [Se'lah] 5 Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the valley of Ba'ca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. 84 Quam dilecta! (ECUSA BCP) 1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts! * My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. 2 The sparrow has found her a house and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; * by the side of your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. 3 Happy are they who dwell in your house! * they will always be praising you. 4 Happy are the people whose strength is in you! * whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way. 5 Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs, * for the early rains have covered it with pools of water. 6 They will climb from height to height, * and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion. Psalm 34: 1 - 2, 16 - 18, 22 (Roman Catholic) Psal 34:1 (NRSV) I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. 16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. 22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. Note: Verse numbering is one greater in Roman Catholic bibles NEW TESTAMENT: 2 Timothy 4: 6 - 8, 16 - 18 (all) 2Tim 4:6 (NRSV) As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 16 At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. h/t Montreal Anglican In the conclusion of the letter, the author depicts Paul as seeing his death as imminent. He says that his coming martyrdom is a “libation”, literally an offering poured around the base of the altar as an offering for sin; Paul’s death will pay homage to God and will contribute to the saving of others. Like a prize boxer and a runner, he has completed the event, i.e. his ministry; he has preserved and guarded “the faith” (v. 7) handed down to him. Jews wore crowns or wreaths in joy and honour; in Greece, winners of athletic meets wore them. Paul will receive his – as will other Christians – when Christ comes again (“his appearing”, v. 8). As Jesus was deserted as death approached, so is Paul almost alone: “only Luke is with me” (v. 11). At his first trial or hearing (“defence”, v. 16), “all deserted” him – all but Christ, who helped him proclaim the good news to all, both present and beyond. Then Paul was rescued “from the lion’s mouth” (v. 17), from violent death. Christ will rescue him from the devil’s onslaughts (but likely not from physical death). After final personal messages (vv. 19-21), the author prays that Christ may be with Timothy; may God’s “grace” (v. 22), his freely-given gift of love, be with the members of Timothy’s community. Copyright is a recent invention. In ancient times, writing in the name and style of a respected authority was common, and was considered an honour to the authority. Sometimes an author sought to extend, to reinterpret, a sage’s teaching for a different situation or a new generation. This letter may have been written about a time of general persecution of Christians: possibly during the reign of Domitian (95 AD) or of Trajan (112 AD). It is also possible it was written during or shortly after a more localized persecution. Verse 6: “being poured out as a libation”: Paul speaks of "”being poured out as a libation” in Philippians 2:17. For offering of a drink as well as animal and cereal (grain) offerings in the Temple, see Numbers 15:1-12; 28:7, 24; Exodus 29:40; Psalm 16:4. [CAB] [JBC] Verse 6: “the time of my departure”: Paul writes in Philippians 1:23: “I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better”. [JBC] Verse 7: “the race”: Paul uses this metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:24 and Philippians 3:12-14. [CAB] See also 2:5 and 1 Timothy 6:12. [CAB] Verse 8: “crown of righteousness”: See also 2:5; 1 Corinthians 9:25; Revelation 2:10. [CAB] If there were Jewish Christians in Timothy’s community, they would be familiar with the wearing of crowns or wreaths of leaves or flowers as symbols of joy and honour at feasts and weddings. [NOAB] Verse 8: “on that day”: i.e. the Day of Judgement. 1:18 says “... may the Lord grant that he [Onesiphorus] will find mercy from the Lord on that day!”. [NOAB] Verses 10-12: Comments: As Jesus was deserted as death approached ...: See Matthew 26:56 (“Then all the disciples deserted him and fled”) and Mark 14:50. Verses 10-11: “Demas ... Luke”: They are also mentioned in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 24. In both books, they are co-workers with Paul, but in Acts of Paul and Thecla, Demas and Hermogenes teach that the resurrection (which they see as purely spiritual) has already taken place! Here Demas, Crescens and Titus are off on missionary journeys. For “Galatia” some manuscripts read Gaul. [CAB] Verse 10: “Dalmatia”: The coastal region of ancient Illyricum, now in Yugoslavia and Albania. [CAB] Verse 11: “Mark”: Colossians 4:10 mentions the activities of Mark in Asia Minor and says that he is “the cousin of Barnabas”. Philemon 24 says that he is one of Paul’s co-workers. [CAB] It is probable that John Mark, a colleague of Barnabas (see Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37-39), is the same person, though he is said to have abandoned Paul at one point (see Acts 13:13 and 15:38). [NJBC] Verse 12: “Tychicus”: He is also mentioned in Titus 3:12; Colossians 4:7; Ephesians 6:21-22. Acts 20:4 tells us that he was one of Paul’s companions when he visited Greece for the last time. [CAB] Verse 13: “cloak”: Winter is coming: see also v. 21.[CAB] Verse 13: “Troas”: An Aegean port city on the west coast of Asia Minor. [CAB] Verse 13: “books ... parchments”: The “books” are papyrus scrolls, the then current writing material. The “parchments” are scrolls made out of animal skin, usually from sheep or goats. [CAB] Paul exercises the philosophic virtue of self-sufficiency: 1 Timothy 6:6-8 says: “Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these”. [NJBC] Verse 13: “Carpus”: He is mentioned only here in the New Testament. [CAB] Verse 14: “Alexander”: This may be the same person as in Acts 19:33 (in Ephesus). 1 Timothy 1:19-20 says: “By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith; among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme”. In Acts of Paul and Thecla, Hermogenes “the coppersmith” opposes Paul. [NJBC] Verse 14: “the Lord will pay him back for his deeds”: See also Psalm 28:4; 62:12; Proverbs 24:12. In Romans 2:6, Paul writes: “... For he [God] will repay according to each one's deeds”. [CAB] Verse 15: “message”: A scholar suggests that the Greek word is a legal term, so legal arguments would be a suitable translation. Verse 16: “At my first defence”: If this indeed means his first trial, Paul wrote (or is imagined as writing) 2 Timothy between his first and second trial. [JBC] Verse 17: “the lion’s mouth”: A common Old Testament metaphor for violent death: see Psalms 7:2; 17:12; 22:21. [NOAB] Psalm 22 tells how God vindicates the just person who suffers persecution. [NJBC] In Psalm 22:19, a psalmist calls on Yahweh: “But you, O LORD, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid!”. However, is this figurative or literal? We know, for example, that Ignatius of Antioch died literally in the lion's mouth, around 107-115 AD. This was around the time when 2 Timothy was written, assuming that it was written in Paul's name. By that time people were regularly being thrown to the wild beasts, and doubtless earlier. So it is possible, even assuming that the letter is Pauline, that the phrase is meant literally. Verse 18: “To him be the glory forever and ever”: For other doxologies, see 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16; Philippians 4:20. [CAB] Verse 18: “will rescue me”: 3:11 says: “... What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them” Verse 19: “Prisca and Aquila”: Acts 18:2-3 says of them: “There [in Corinth] he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together – by trade they were tentmakers”. They are also mentioned in Acts 18:18, 26; Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19. A house-church met in their home. [NOAB] [CAB] Verse 19: “Onesiphorus”: 1:16-17 says “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain; when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me”. [NOAB] His household is also mentioned in 4:19. In that his “household” is mentioned, he may be deceased. [CAB] Verse 20: “Erastus”: Romans 16:23 tells us that he was “city treasurer” (possibly of Corinth). Acts 19:22 tells us that Paul sent “two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus” to Macedonia. [CAB] Verse 20: “Trophimus”: “Trophimus from Asia” was also one of Paul’s companions when he was in Greece for the last time: see Acts 20:4. Acts 21:29 tells us that he was from Ephesus. [NOAB] Verse 20: “Miletus”: A port city on the Aegean Sea, south of Ephesus. Acts 20:17 tells us that “From Miletus he [Paul] sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him”. [CAB] Verse 21: Those named in this verse are mentioned only here in the New Testament. [CAB] Verse 21: “before winter”: i.e. before the end of the navigation season. [NOAB] Verse 21: “Pudens”: By tradition, a Roman senator converted by Peter. Verse 21: “Linus”: Traditionally identified as Paul’s successor as bishop of Rome – but the identification is not certain. Verse 21: “Claudia”: Apostolic Constitutions 7:46, 17-19 says that Claudia was Linus’ mother. Verse 22: “Your” is in the singular and “you” is plural, so the author addresses both Timothy and the community. Philemon ends with “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit”. [NJBC] 1 Timothy also ends with “Grace be with you”. [CAB] GOSPEL: Luke 18: 9 - 14 (all) Luke 18:9 (NRSV) He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Phar'isee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Phar'isee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke has presented Jesus telling a parable about a judge and a widow. Even the uncaring judge listens to a petition, eventually; when Christ comes again, he will hear and answer the prayers of the faithful with due alacrity. Now Jesus tells a parable to “some” who take a legalistic approach to Judaism: “they were righteous”, pious. Pharisees kept the Law scrupulously - both written and aural, so they must be acceptable to God! (The unwritten law formed a protective shell round Mosaic law, reducing the chances of ever erring to the point of transgressing the real law.) Like the Pharisee in the story, they were fastidious in their observation of ritual practices: they fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, and tithed (v. 12): they were seen to be religious. But their pride in keeping the Law led them into self-righteousness (“trusted in themselves”, v. 9), self-importance, and arrogance (“regarded others with contempt”). On the other hand, tax collectors were despised for collaborating with the Roman occupiers. At this point, Jesus’ hearers would be cheering for the Pharisee, especially since most were followers of the Pharisaic party. The tax collector admits he is a sinner (v. 13), repents (“beating his breast”) and seeks God’s mercy. In v. 14, Jesus explains the example story: the tax collector goes home “justified”, accepted by God, acquitted in God’s court of justice, for he has recognized his need for God’s mercy – but not the Pharisee. In the kingdom, roles will be reversed: God receives those who turn to him and implore his mercy; he rejects those who parade their supposed virtues. We should receive the Kingdom as a child does (v. 17). For Jesus’ commentary on this parable, see 6:20-26 (the Beatitudes), part of the Sermon on the Plain. [Blomberg] In the story of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:20), Jesus says “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. Luke and Paul differ as to who is righteous. While Paul relates righteousness to faith, the law and the cross, Luke emphasizes three points: self-confident boasting of one’s own good deeds will not achieve acquittal at God’s judgement; like Jesus, one must engage in deeds of righteousness, e.g. almsgiving; God has vindicated his innocently suffering righteous one, Jesus the Christ: see 23:47; Acts 3:14; 7:52; 22:14. [NJBC] Verse 10: The hours of prayer were 9 am and 3 pm. [JBC] Verse 10: “tax collector”: Publicani were tax-farmers who bid on contracts to collect taxes in the provinces. “These publicani paid the stipulated sum-total of the impost directly into the Roman treasury and recouped themselves in the provinces by means of their trained staffs of collectors." [M. Cary and H. H. Scullard, A History of Rome Third Edition, Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1975, 1979]. In essence, having paid the tax up front, they subsequently extorted what they could from the populace, keeping the difference as profit. Verse 11: “standing by himself”: Jeremias, the great interpreter of the parables, wrote, based on its Aramaic background, that this phrase can be translated: took up a prominent position. [JBC] Verse 11: In Matthew 6:5, Jesus says: “... whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others...”. See also Mark 11:25. [NOAB] The Law permitted a righteous Jew to disdain the unrighteous. In a standard prayer, then and now, a pious Jewish man thanks God that he is not a slave, a Gentile or a woman (Babylonian Talmud: Menahot Tractate 43b). Paul’s reaction to this prayer is “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (see Galatians 3:28). [Blomberg] Verse 12: “I give a tenth ...”: See also 11:42. Didache 8:1 says “But as for your fasts, let them not be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and fifth days of the week, but fast on the fourth and sixth days”. Christians are bidden to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. [BlkLk] Verse 13: “beating his breast”: After Jesus dies, the crowd “returned home, beating their breasts” (23:48). Normally only women beat their breasts; in times of extreme emotion, men did it too. [NJBC] Verse 14a: “justified”: This saying of Jesus led to Paul’s doctrine of justification. [JBC] Verse 14b: After telling the Parable of the Lost Sheep, in 15:7 Jesus says: “... there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance”. Verses 15-17: In contrast to the boasting Pharisee of vv. 9-14, disciples (followers) should approach God as a little child: with spontaneity, a spirit of dependence, a sense of wonderment, with no plaques of achievement. The doors of the Kingdom do not swing open to those who comport themselves differently. [NJBC]