· 1 Remegius,
Bishop of Rheims, c. 530 was Bishop
of Reims and Apostle of the Franks, (c. 437 – January 13, AD 533). On 25 December 496 he baptised Clovis I, King of the Franks. This baptism, leading
to the conversion of the entire Frankish people to Catholic Christianity, was a
momentous success for the Church and a seminal event in European history.
· 3 George Kennedy Allen Bell, Bishop of Chichester,
and Ecumenist, 1958. John Raleigh Mott, Evangelist and Ecumenical
Pioneer, 1955
· 4 Francis
of Assisi, Friar, 1226 was an Italian Roman
Catholic friar,
deacon and
preacher. He founded the men's Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of Saint Clare, the Third Order of Saint Francis and the Custody of the Holy Land.[3]
Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history.[
· 6 William
Tyndale and Miles Coverdale, Translators of the Bible, 1536,
1568 , was an English ecclesiastical reformer chiefly known as a Bible translator,
preacher and, briefly, Bishop of Exeter (1551-1553).[1]
Regarding his probable birth county, Daniell cites John Bale,
author of a sixteenth century scriptorium, giving it as Yorkshire.[1][note 1]
Having studied philosophy and theology in Cambridg
OLD TESTAMENT: Exodus 17:
1 - 7 (RCL)
Exod 17:1 (NRSV) From the wilderness of Sin the whole
congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the LORD commanded. They
camped at Reph'idim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The
people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink."
Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the
LORD?" 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and the people
complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt,
to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" 4 So Moses cried
out to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready
to stone me." 5 The LORD said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people,
and take some of the elders of Israel
with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile,
and go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Ho'reb.
Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may
drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7 He called the place Mas'sah and Mer'ibah, because the Israelites quarreled
and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
Ezekiel 18: 1 - 4, 25 - 32 (alt. for RCL)
Ezekiel 18: 25 - 28 (Roman Catholic)
Ezek 18:1 (NRSV) The word of the LORD came to me: 2 What
do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land
of Israel, "The parents have
eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"? 3 As I live,
says the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.
4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of
the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.
25 Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is unfair."
Hear now, O house of Israel:
Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26 When the righteous
turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it;
for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27 Again, when the
wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful
and right, they shall save their life. 28 Because they considered and turned
away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely
live; they shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel
says, "The way of the Lord is unfair." O house of Israel,
are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord GOD. Turn, then, and live.
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord GOD. Turn, then, and live.
PSALM 78: 1 - 4, 12 -
16 (RCL)
Psal 78:1 (NRSV) Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
12 In the sight of their ancestors he worked marvels
in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zo'an.
13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it,
and made the waters stand like a heap.
14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
and all night long with a fiery light.
15 He split rocks open in the wilderness,
and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
16 He made streams come out of the rock,
and caused waters to flow down like rivers.
in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zo'an.
13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it,
and made the waters stand like a heap.
14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
and all night long with a fiery light.
15 He split rocks open in the wilderness,
and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
16 He made streams come out of the rock,
and caused waters to flow down like rivers.
78
Part I Attendite, popule (ECUSA BCP)
1 Hear my teaching, O my people; *
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
*
I will declare the mysteries of ancient
times.
3 That which we have heard and known,
and what our forefathers have told us, *
we will not hide from their children.
4 We will recount to generations to
come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *
and the wonderful works he has done.
12 He worked marvels in the sight of
their forefathers, *
in the land of Egypt, in the field of
Zoan.
13 He split open the sea and let them
pass through; *
he made the waters stand up like walls.
14 He led them with a cloud by day, *
and all the night through with a glow of
fire.
15 He split the hard rocks in the
wilderness *
and gave them drink as from the great deep.
16 He brought streams out of the cliff,
*
and the waters gushed out like rivers.
Psalm 25: 4 - 9 (Roman Catholic)
Psalm 25: 1 - 9 (alt. for RCL)
Psal 25:1 (NRSV) To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness' sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the LORD?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness' sake, O LORD!
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the LORD?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Note that
the verse numbering in your Psalter may be different (v. 1 in US BCP & in Common Worship = vs.
1&2 in NRSV)
25 Ad te, Domine, levavi (ECUSA BCP)
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
my God, I put my trust in you; *
let me not be humiliated,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
2 Let none who look to you be put to
shame; *
let the treacherous be disappointed in their
schemes.
3 Show me your ways, O Lord, *
and teach me your paths.
4 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
*
for you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted all the
day long.
5 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *
for they are from everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth
and my transgressions; *
remember me according to your love
and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
7 Gracious and upright is the Lord; *
therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
8 He guides the humble in doing right
*
and teaches his way to the lowly.
NEW TESTAMENT: Philippians
2: 1 - 13 (RCL)
Philippians
2: 1 - 5 (6 - 11) (Roman Catholic)
Phil 2:1 (NRSV) If then there is any encouragement in
Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion
and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same
love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition
or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each
of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let
the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
h/t Montreal
Anglican
Vv. 5-11 are an early Christian hymn to which Paul has added v. 8b. He exhorts his readers to be of the same mindset as Jesus – one that is appropriate for them, given their existence “in Christ” (v. 5). Christ was “in the form of God” (v. 6): he was already like God; he had a God-like way of being, e.g. he was not subject to death. He shared in God’s very nature. Even so, he did not “regard” being like God “as something to be exploited”, i.e. to be used for his own purposes. Rather, he “emptied himself” (v. 7), made himself powerless and ineffective – as a slave is powerless, without rights. He took on the likeness of a human being, with all which that entails (except sin), including death. As a man, he lowered (“humbled”, v. 8) himself, and throughout his life in the world, was fully human and totally obedient to God, even to dying. (Paul now adds: even to the most debasing way of dying, crucifixion – reserved for slaves and the worst criminals.)
God actively responded to this total denial of self, his complete living and dying for others, by placing him above all other godly people (“highly exalted him”, v. 9), and bestowing on him the name, title and authority of “Lord” (v. 11) over the whole universe (“heaven”, v. 10, “earth”, “under the earth”). This authority, before Christ came to us, the Father reserved for himself. Paul recalls God’s words spoken through Isaiah: “From every corner of the earth [all are to] turn to me and be saved; for I am God ... to me every knee shall bow ... to me every tongue shall swear, saying ‘In the Lord alone are victory and might ... all Israel’s descendants will be victorious and will glory in the Lord’”; the Philippians shall worship him; confessing that “Jesus Christ is Lord” (v. 11) is proclaiming the victory and might of God. The ultimate goal is the “glory of God the Father”, the reclamation of God’s sovereignty, his power over, and presence in, the universe. So (v. 12) may they, using Christ’s example of obedience and lowliness (“fear and trembling”), continue to “work out” their “salvation” with God’s help in what they intend (“will”, v. 13) and what they do (“work”).
Verses 6-11: Clues to this being an early Christian hymn which Paul quotes are its rhythmic character, use of parallelism, and occurrence of rare and uncharacteristic language. For other fragments of early Christian hymns on the subject of Christ’s work, see 1:15-20; Ephesians 2:14-16; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 3:18-19, 22; Hebrews 1:3. [ NJBC]
Verse 3: “in humility”: While in the Old Testament lowliness was an appropriate posture vis-Ã -vis God, in the secular Greco-Roman world it was a despised and abject condition. But Paul tells us that for Christians freely adopting such a stance, in imitation of Christ, is virtuous. [ NJBC]
Verse 5: From 4:2, it appears that two members of the community, Euodia and Syntyche, are not “of the same mind in the Lord”.
Verse 6: “in the form of God”: i.e. pre-existent and divine (see John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Romans 8:3; Galatians 4:4), sharing in God’s very nature. [ NOAB]
Verse 7: “slave”: Perhaps an allusion to Isaiah 52:13-53:12, one of the Servant Songs. [ NOAB]
Verse 8: See also Matthew 26:39 (Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane), John 10:18 (“‘No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord ...’”); Romans 5:19; Hebrews 5:8; 12:2.
Verse 9: “highly exalted him”: In his resurrection and ascension: see also Acts 2:32-33 (Peter’s speech on the day of Pentecost); 5:30-31; Ephesians 1:20-21.
Verse 9: “the name ...”: The name is “Lord” (v. 11), the title of Israel’s covenant God, applied by Christians to the risen and glorified Jesus. See also 1 Thessalonians 1:1. [ NOAB]
Verses 10-11: Comments quotes Isaiah 45:22-24 in the REB translation.
Verse 11: In Romans 10:9, Paul writes: “... if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”. See also 2 Corinthians 9:13.
Verse 12: “fear and trembling”: i.e. humbly and with constant dependence on God’s help. [ NOAB]
Verse 13: “will”: NJBC translates the Greek as goodwill and explains that it is goodwill towards fellow members of the community.
Verse 14: “without murmuring”: In 1 Corinthians 10:9-10, Paul advises: “We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer”.
Verse 15: “crooked and perverse generation”: Deuteronomy 32:5 says that “his degenerate children [the Israelites] have dealt falsely with him, a perverse and crooked generation”.
Verse 15: “shine like stars”: Daniel 12:3, speaking of the Day of Judgement, says “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever”.
Verse 16: “the day of Christ”: i.e. the day when Christ returns and the present age ends. In 1 Corinthians 1:8, Paul writes: “He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”. See also 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and 2 Peter 3:10.
Verse 17: “poured out as a libation”: i.e. condemned to death.
GOSPEL: Matthew 21: 23 - 32 (RCL)
Matthew 21: 28 - 32 (Roman Catholic)
Matt 21:23
(NRSV) When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the
people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are
you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" 24 Jesus said to
them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I
will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did the baptism of
John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with
one another, "If we say, "From heaven,' he will say to us, "Why
then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we say, "Of human origin,' we are
afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." 27 So they
answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither
will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28 "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, "Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 He answered, "I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, "I go, sir'; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
28 "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, "Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 He answered, "I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, "I go, sir'; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
In the final week of his earthly life, Jesus has just
shown the importance of faith in understanding God’s ways. Now, as he teaches
in the Temple, representatives of
the Sanhedrin (“chief priests and the elders”) ask who has given him the power
and “authority” to do all that he has done in his ministry. But he will only
answer them if they first answer his question (v. 25),
one which will show whether they have the requisite faith to understand his
answer. His questioners are skilled in the Law, but it is of little help in
deciding whether a prophet (in this case John the Baptist) is genuinely from
God. If they say that John was from God, they should have repented as he urged;
if they say he was not, they will lose face and status with the many who have
come to Jesus (v. 26).
The Sanhedrin judged such issues, so their answer (v. 27)
shows their incompetence. Jesus tells them a parable about admission to the
kingdom (vv. 28-30).
People known for their evil ways (“tax collectors ...”, v. 31)
have turned to God (like the first son), while the authorities, (like the
second son), have observed the rules (note “sir”, v. 30)
but have not acted on them. But they can still come to faith; even if they do,
people considered to be disreputable will enter the Kingdom “ahead of you” (v. 31).
Verses 23-27: The parallels are Mark 11:27-33
and Luke 20:1-8.
See also John 2:18-22.Verse 23: “By what authority ...”: Jesus is not of the priestly tribe of Levi; nor is he a rabbi. [ NOAB]
Verses 24-25: To answer with one’s own question is to argue in a rabbinic way.
Verse 25: “from heaven”: i.e. from God.
Verse 26: For John as a prophet, see 11:9 (“more than a prophet”); 14:5 (the crowd considered John to be a prophet); Luke 1:76 (“... you, child [John], will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins”).
Verse 28: While the “vineyard” (usually an indication that the parable is about Israel) is probably not significant here, “today” is: the matter is urgent.
Verse 30: “I go, sir”: The second son is dutifully polite.
Verse 30: “he did not go”: In James 2:14-26, the author asks: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?”.
Verse 32: Luke 7:29-30 tells us “... And all the people who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with John's baptism. But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves”.
Verse 32: “in the way of righteousness”: i.e. reconciliation with God by faith [ NOAB]; as a true spokesman for God. [ Blomberg] This phrase is common in the wisdom literature: see Proverbs 8:20; 12:28; Psalm 23:3. The doctrine of the two ways is found in the Qumran literature.
