·
6 THE EPIPHANY –
may be celebrated on the Sunday between 2 and 8 January
·
10 William Laud, Archbishop of
Canterbury, 1645 was an
English archbishop and academic.
He was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633, during the personal rule of Charles I. Arrested in 1640, he was executed in 1645
·
11 Mary Slessor, Missionary in West Africa, 1915
·
12 Aelred of Hexham, Abbot of Rievaulx, 1167 was an
English Cistercian monk, abbot of Rievaulx from 1147
until his death, known as a writer
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 40: 21 - 31 (RCL)
Isai 40:21 (NRSV)
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
Has it not been
told you from the beginning?
Have you not
understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who
sits above the circle of the earth,
and its
inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out
the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them
like a tent to live in;
23 who brings
princes to naught,
and makes the
rulers of the earth as nothing.
24 Scarcely are
they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their
stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows upon
them, and they wither,
and the tempest
carries them off like stubble.
25 To whom then
will you compare me,
or who is my
equal? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your
eyes on high and see:
Who created these?
He who brings out
their host and numbers them,
calling them all
by name;
because he is
great in strength,
mighty in power,
not one is
missing.
27 Why do you say,
O Jacob,
and speak, O
Israel,
"My way is
hidden from the LORD,
and my right is
disregarded by my God"?
28 Have you not
known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the
everlasting God,
the Creator of the
ends of the earth.
He does not faint
or grow weary;
his understanding
is unsearchable.
29 He gives power
to the faint,
and strengthens
the powerless.
30 Even youths
will faint and be weary,
and the young will
fall exhausted;
31 but those who
wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount
up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and
not be weary,
they shall walk
and not faint.
Job 7: 1 - 4, 6 -
7 (Roman Catholic)
Job 7:1 (NRSV) "Do not human beings have a
hard service on earth,
and are not their
days like the days of a laborer?
2 Like a slave who
longs for the shadow,
and like laborers
who look for their wages,
3 so I am allotted
months of emptiness,
and nights of
misery are apportioned to me.
4 When I lie down
I say, "When shall I rise?'
But the night is
long,
and I am full of
tossing until dawn.
6 My days are
swifter than a weaver's shuttle,
and come to their
end without hope.
7 "Remember
that my life is a breath;
my eye will never
again see good.
PSALM 147: 1 - 11,
20c (RCL)
Psalm 147: 1 - 6 (Roman Catholic)
Psal 147:1 (NRSV)
Praise the LORD!
How good it is to
sing praises to our God;
for he is
gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The LORD builds
up Jerusalem;
he gathers the
outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the
brokenhearted,
and binds up their
wounds.
4 He determines
the number of the stars;
he gives to all of
them their names.
5 Great is our
Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding
is beyond measure.
6 The LORD lifts
up the downtrodden;
he casts the
wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the LORD
with thanksgiving;
make melody to our
God on the lyre.
8 He covers the
heavens with clouds,
prepares rain for
the earth,
makes grass grow
on the hills.
9 He gives to the
animals their food,
and to the young
ravens when they cry.
10 His delight is
not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure
in the speed of a runner;
11 but the LORD
takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope
in his steadfast love.
20 Praise the
LORD!
Note: the last line (v.
20c) is optional for the C of E
147 Laudate Dominum (ECUSA
BCP)
1 Hallelujah!
How good it is to
sing praises to our God! *
how
pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
2 The
Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *
he
gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He
heals the brokenhearted *
and
binds up their wounds.
4 He
counts the number of the stars *
and
calls them all by their names.
5 Great
is our Lord and mighty in power; *
there
is no limit to his wisdom.
6 The
Lord lifts up the lowly, *
but
casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing
to the Lord with thanksgiving; *
make
music to our God upon the harp.
8 He
covers the heavens with clouds *
and
prepares rain for the earth;
9 He
makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
and
green plants to serve mankind.
10 He
provides food for flocks and herds *
and
for the young ravens when they cry.
11 He
is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
he
has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
12 But
the Lord has pleasure in those who
fear him, *
in
those who await his gracious favor.
21 Hallelujah!
NEW TESTAMENT: 1 Corinthians 9: 16 - 23 (all)
1Cor 9:16 (NRSV)
If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an
obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17 For
if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am
entrusted with a commission. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in my
proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use
of my rights in the gospel.
19 For though I am
free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might
win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To
those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under
the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I
became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under
Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I
became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all
people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the
gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
h/t Montreal Anglican
Paul has written that,
whatever others may think, he is an apostle for he has seen the risen Christ
and he has brought many to him, especially at Corinth. So he, as are other
apostles, is entitled “to be accompanied by a believing wife” (v. 5)
and to be supported financially by the Church. However, lest asserting this
“right” to be paid put an “obstacle” (v. 12)
to faith in the way of coming to Christ, he will not insist on this right.
Nothing must get in the way of “boasting” (v. 15,
telling), the good news.
But proclaiming
(boasting) the gospel is an obligation placed on him, so he has no grounds for
bragging about his performance. He does not proclaim the good news of his own
will, but rather as one commissioned to do so by God; however
that he does so “free of charge” (v. 18),
without being paid, is his choice (of his own will), so he is due a “reward”
(v. 17).
This reward is:
·
freedom from constraints which others would place on him (“free with
respect to all”, v. 19),
and
·
being an even more effective emissary of Christ,
bringing even more
people to him. He has brought people to Christ by becoming as one (v. 20)
religiously with them: he has behaved in a way not to give offense to prospects
for conversion, in order to establish communications with them, respecting
their customs. He has voluntarily restricted the freedom he has in Christ,
making himself “a slave to all” (v. 19).
With those who are “weak” (v. 22),
those who easily lose faith when apparent obstacles appear
(e.g. eating meat left over from pagan rites) he has avoided doing what would
upset them (e.g. he has refrained from eating such meat). He has accepted
self--control and self--denial the more effectively to spread the good news
(v. 23).
He can only share in Christ’s gifts if he carries out God’s commission.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:7,
Paul speaks of his restraint from asserting his rights as an apostle: “... we
might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you,
like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children”. [NOAB]
Verses 1-2: “an apostle”: In 15:8-9,
Paul writes: “Then he [Jesus] appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last
of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of
the apostles ...”. See also Galatians 1:1, 11-12;
Acts 9:3-6 (Paul’s
vision), 17.
[ NOAB]
Verse 4: i.e. at the expense of the church. [ NOAB]
Verse 5: “the brothers of the Lord”: In Matthew 13:55,
some who have heard Jesus in the synagogue ask “... And are not his brothers James
and Joseph and Simon and Judas?”. That they and “Cephas” (presumably Peter) are
mentioned suggests that the opposition to Paul originated in Jerusalem. Of
Jesus’ brothers, Paul only names one: James (see Galatians 1:19).
See also Mark 3:31; 6:3;
Acts 1:14.
[ NJBC]
Verse 5: “a believing wife”: Mark 1:30 tells
us that Peter was married: “Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever ...”.
[ NOAB]
Verse 6: “Barnabas”: He is mentioned in Galatians 2:1 as
Paul’s companion on his visit to Jerusalem. In Galatians 1:13,
Paul says of him: “even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy”, meaning
the hypocrisy of Jerusalem Christians. “Only” is singular in the Greek so Paul
may have suddenly remembered another apostle whose practice mirrored his own. [ NJBC]
Verse 6: “ have no right to refrain from working for a
living”: Paul employs four arguments to justify the right to support:
- From common sense (v. 7-8,
“on human authority”), an argument also used in 2 Timothy 2:3-6
- Mosaic law (vv. 8-9)
- Ancient cultic practice (v. 13),
and
- Jesus’ directive for the Palestinian mission (v. 14)
[ NJBC]
Verse 11: A quid pro quo. [ NJBC]
Verse 12: “If others ...”: Other missionaries have
passed through Corinth, and have had the right to support accepted. [NJBC]
Verse 13: In Judaism, this is prescribed in
Leviticus 7:28-35.
It was also the practice in Hellenic cults. [ NOAB]
Verse 14: In Luke 10:7,
Jesus tells the pairs of emissaries he sends out: “Remain in the same house,
eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be
paid”. Deuteronomy 25:4 and
this verse are quoted in 1 Timothy 5:18.
[ NOAB]
Verses 15-18: In 2 Corinthians 11:7-12,
Paul says that his mission to the Corinthians is financed by “friends who came
from Macedonia”. [ NOAB]
Verse 17: “entrusted with a commission”: In
Galatians 1:15-17,
Paul tells us “ ... when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called
me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might
proclaim him among the Gentiles, ... I went away at once into Arabia, and
afterwards I returned to Damascus.” [ NJBC]
Verse 18: “free of charge”: NJBC sees this as a feeble joke.
The wages of one not entitled to any is to work for nothing!
Verse 18: “not to make full use of”: The verb in Greek
is katachraomai, meaning overuse. NJBC says that Paul uses this word
deliberately to disguise a mental reservation, because while at Corinth he was
subsidized from Macedonia.
Verses 20-22: Paul proceeds with his mission with
consideration and tact, not cowardice and compromise. [ NOAB]
Verse 21: This verse is difficult to understand;
in Comments I present a general understanding of vv. 19-23. Blk1Cor says “this is one of
the most difficult sentences in the epistle”. It is perhaps helpful to recall
Galatians 6:2,
where the “law of Christ” is fulfilled by bearing one another’s burdens, i.e.
in love. Christ fulfills “God’s law” but now love helps us to be obedient to
God, as Paul is, “entrusted with a commission”. NJBC also sees an allusion to the
“law--less” at Corinth, i.e. those who saw no requirement for ethical behaviour
because the Second Coming was thought to be so close. See 6:12 and 10:23.
Verse 22: Comments: eating meat left
over from pagan rites : In 8:12-13,
Paul submits himself to the conscience (and discipline) of the “weak” and
recommends such discipline to others who have progressed significantly in their
journeys of faith: “... when you thus sin against members of your family, and
wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ”. [ NJBC]
Verse 22: “win the weak”: As will become clear in 10:23-11:1,
the hearts of the weak also needed to be changed. [ NJBC]
Verses 24-27: Athletic metaphors on the importance of
self--discipline out of consideration for others. [ NOAB] In a sense, Paul trains
himself to better carry out his God--given commission.
GOSPEL: Mark 1: 29 - 39 (all)
Mark 1:29 (NRSV)
As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew,
with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and
they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted
her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32 That evening,
at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33
And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were
sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit
the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35 In the morning,
while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and
there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they
found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." 38 He
answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim
the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." 39 And he went
throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out
demons.
Now, with the four disciples he has called so far, he heals the mother of Peter’s wife. That she serves them shows that she is completely and immediately cured (v. 31). Note that Jesus “took her by the hand”: no respected religious leader would do so, especially not on the Sabbath. Was she so seriously ill that Jesus could not wait a few hours to heal her until the Sabbath ended, thus avoiding controversy as to whether this healing could be done on the Sabbath? Mark doesn’t tell us of any.
Then, after the Sabbath, at the start of the next Jewish day (“that evening”, v. 32), many who are in like condition to the man in the synagogue (mentally ill) and to Peter’s mother--in--law (physically ill) are brought to him. Many gather around the doorway (“door”, v. 33) of the house to see his miracles. The evil forces recognize his power over them but he intends to show himself as God’s agent later, so he does not “permit the demons to speak” (v. 34). Jesus then withdraws to be alone to commune with God (v. 35). Perhaps Peter and the others see him as missing an opportunity to heal, but Jesus insists that his mission extends beyond Capernaum (v. 38). He travels throughout the region, proclaiming the good news to Jews who meet for worship and study, and overcoming evil forces in people (v. 39)
Verses 29-34: The parallels are Matthew 8:14-17 and Luke 4:38-41. [ NOAB]
Verse 29: “the house of Simon and Andrew”: Archeologists may have discovered this house south of the synagogue at Capernaum. The four disciples are called in vv. 16-20. [ NJBC]
Verse 30: “fever”: We do not know what kind of “fever” this was. Such ailments, which [mostly] come and go quickly, are common in the Near East. Malaria is a possibility. [ BlkMk]
Verse 31: “He ... took her by the hand”: Jesus could be accused of contracting uncleanness. [ HenMk]
Verse 31: “she began to serve them”: The religious authorities generally disapproved of a woman’s serving at table but in villages women always had more freedom, and the Pharisees still had little influence in Galilee. [ BlkMk] HenMk quotes a rabbinic writer, admittedly 200 years later: “‘One must under no circumstances be served by a woman, be she adult or child’”. The meal she served them what would be the one at the end of Shabbat, which would be an important part of her religious practice – a big mitzvah – especially with guests. [Christopher Seal]
Comments: wait a few hours: Some scholars see 1:24-34 as being the events of one Jewish day. This view would place the healing of Peter’s mother--in--law near the end of the day.
Verses 35-39: See also Matthew 4:23-25 and Luke 4:42-44. [ NOAB]
Verse 35: For prayer as part of many recorded momentous events in Jesus’ life, see also Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28 (the Transfiguration); 11:1; 22:41-46 (on the Mount of Olives). [ NOAB]
Verse 35: “he ... went out to a deserted place”: This recalls his initial preparation by the Spirit for ministry in the “wilderness” (v. 12). [ CAB]
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