Download Introductions to readings for Saints` Days and other Festivals

Reading Introductions for Saints Days and other
Festivals
THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL – JANUARY 25
Acts 9, 1 – 22
News of the resurrection of Jesus spread beyond Palestine to other major cities
where there were well established Jewish colonies. Orthodox Judaism reacted with
persecution, fronted by Saul of Tarsus, a fanatical Pharisee. (Ananias ought to be
recognised as one of the most courageous of the early Christians — strangely we have
never even named him a ‘saint’)
Galatians 1, 11
Critics of our
the Christian
feared Paul’s
accusation.
– 16a
religion sometimes say that it was St. Paul – not Jesus – who invented
Faith. That accusation was first made by early Jewish converts who
mission to the Gentile world. In an angry letter Paul refutes the
Matthew 19, 27 – 30
Our Lord once challenged a wealthy young man to sell up, and join his Team. He
refused. In the ensuing teaching (part of which we hear now) Jesus outlines both the
sacrifices and the rewards of discipleship.
MOTHERING SUNDAY LESSONS
Exodus 2, 1 - 10
The immeasurable influence of Moses in the development of three great world
religions depended on the motherly instincts of two very different women!
Colossians 3, 12 - 17
God’s unconditional love and forgiveness calls us to a life-style totally different from
the accepted macho and materialistic standards of the world.
John 19, 25b - 27
Parenthood involves loving and losing — Mary followed her Son from his crib to his
cross. And he understood her need.
BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST – 24 JUNE
Isaiah 40:1 – 11
In the middle of the 6th century BC Jerusalem lay in ruins and God’s supposedly
‘chosen people’ found themselves prisoners of war in Babylon. The second prophet in
the book of Isaiah promises that the time is coming for a joyful return home. 1
1
Introductions to the readings are by the Rev’d Ian Robins
Acts 13, 14b – 26
St. Paul, on his first missionary tour (in about 47AD) arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. His
homily in the Synagogue skilfully surveyed Hebrew history in order to place Jesus as a
descendant of King David – the fulfilment o Jewish Messianic expectation.
or…
Galatians 3, 23 – 29
St. Paul, trained as a Pharisee, lived his early years within the strict racial and sexual
segregation of Judaism. Through his encounter with Jesus he discovered that Divine
love embraces the whole human family.
Luke 1.57-66, 80
Zechariah, a Priest on rota duty at the Temple in Jerusalem, received a promise that
his childless wife would have a son. Traumatized by the experience, he becomes deaf
and dumb, but a child was conceived.
PETER & PAUL – 29 JUNE
Acts 12, 1 – 11
In AD 41 Herod Agrippa was appointed King of Palestine. The new ‘Jesus Movement’
was growing rapidly, to the consternation of orthodox Jews. To curry favour with the
Jewish Council Herod took action.
2 Timothy 4, 6 – 8, 17 – 18
Returning from his Third Missionary Journey St. Paul was attacked by orthodox Jews
in the Temple at Jerusalem. He was rescued by the Roman authorities and eventually
transferred to Rome for trial. The historical details are confused, but the second
letter to Timothy seems to have been written from prison as Paul awaited execution.
Matthew 16, 13 – 19
With opposition to his teaching increasing, and his popularity declining Jesus retreats
to the extreme north of Galilee, anxious to determine what his disciples really
believed about him. All three Synoptic Gospels report St. Peter’s act of Faith — but
only St. Matlhew records the promise that he would have supreme authority
ST.MARY MAGDALENE – JULY 22
Song of Solomon 3, 1 – 4
The Song of Solomon is a ‘love poem’ written around the 6th century BC. It can be
understood as an allegory of Divine love. Mysteriously this description of a woman’s
search for her lover foreshadows Mary Magdalene’s early morning visit to the tomb of
Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5., 14 – 17
First century Corinth was a multi-national commercial centre dominated by the
Temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Not surprisingly the Church in Corinth was
often in deep trouble with party divisions, blatant immorality and arguments over the
status of women. St. Paul begs his converts to submit to the life-changing love of
Christ.
John 20. 1 – 2, 11 – 18
St. John’s account of the first Easter morning suggests the memories of an eyewitness. Relationships between men and women were strictly controlled in Judaism,
but the intimacy between Jesus and Mary Magdalene is evident in the words “Do not
hold on to me”.
BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE - 24 AUGUST
Isaiah 43, 8 – 13
We are in the sixth century BC. Leading Israelites are prisoners of war in Babylon,
and tempted by the polytheistic worship of the pagan gods around them. Second
Isaiah challenges them to remain faithful to the One Supreme Creator.
Acts 5, 12 – 16
In the months after Pentecost the healing ministry of Jesus continued through his
apostles. Notice that both men and women are coming to believe in Jesus. Notice too
that some were afraid to associate with a movement founded by One who had been
condemned by the Jewish hierarchy and executed by the Roman Governor. (Solomon’s
Portico would be a columned covered area, a focus of social life similar to our shopping
Malls.)
Luke 22, 24 – 30
Our Lord repeatedly contrasted his style of authority with that which is the accepted
model for commercial, political and religious organisations. St. Luke records that this
pathetic power—struggle took place during the Last Supper.
HOLY CROSS DAY. SEPTEMBER 14TH.
Numbers 21, 4 – 9
The stories of the Hebrew slaves’ journey, after their escape from Egypt, focus on
Moses’ leadership, and on events interpreted as Divine intervention. (The serpent on a
pole was an Egyptian homeopathic technique for warding off snakes).
Philippians 2, 6 – 11
St. Paul reflects on the mystery of the Incarnation quoting one of the earliest
Christian hymns. Our popular hymn ‘At the name of Jesus’ unites us with those first
Christians across two thousand years.
John 3, 13 – 17
This short gospel passage falls into two sections. First – the conclusion of Jesus’ long
discussion with a sympathetic Rabbi. Then comes St. John the Evangelists’ dynamic
summary of the whole Christian Gospel.
ST.MATTHEWS DAY. SEPTEMBER 21ST
Proverbs 3, 13 – 18
In the third century BC Jewish theologians developed the concept of ‘Wisdom’ as a
divine power or person, usually described in the feminine. ‘Wisdom’ shared with God in
the work of Creation, and the formation of the Chosen People, Israel. (This
personalised ‘Wisdom’ comes close to the Christian understanding of the work of the
Holy Spirit).
2 Corinthians 4, 1 – 6
St. Paul defends himself against accusations of false teaching. In referring to
blindness, and ‘the light shining out of darkness’, St. Paul may be remembering his own
conversion at the Damascus Gate.
Matthew 9, 9 – 13
In inviting a Tax Collector – a collaborator with the hated Roman conquerors – to join
his disciples, Jesus was committing political suicide. He defends his decision.
ST.SIMON AND ST.JUDE – 28 OCTOBER
Isaiah 28, 14—16
When Jerusalem was besieged by the Assyrians in the 8”’ century BC, the city rulers
were in a mood of cynical defeatism. Using an architectural metaphor, the prophet
Isaiah foresees reconstruction after the devastation that was to come.
Ephesians 2. 19—22
St. Paul quotes Isaiah’s “cornerstone” metaphor, envisaging Jesus as the secure point
in the foundation of a multi-racial God-centred community.
John 15, 17—27
St. John’s Gospel took shape late in the first century AD. In his memories of Jesus’
discourse at the Last Supper we may be hearing what was actually happening in the
early Christian communities spreading across the Roman Empire.
BIBLE SUNDAY – Last after Trinity
Isaiah 5, 1 – 11
The second author of the prophecies of Isaiah concludes his contribution with a
magnificent vision of a world in which all nations learn the ways of God and are
blessed.
2 Timothy 3, 14 – 4,5
At the time that St. Paul wrote to Timothy the New Testament did not exist. So we
hear how the early Christians treasured what we know as the Old Testament.
John 5, 36 – 47
In spite of John the Baptist’s testimony to Jesus, Official Judaism refused to
acknowledge him. In this discourse Jesus suggests that even Scriptures can be used
to deny evidence of God’s power and presence.
DEDICATION FESTIVAL
Genesis 28, 11 – 18
In ancient Canaanite religion a person seeking Divine guidance would spend the night
at a local shrine. This may lie behind Jacob’s experience of God’s inescapable
presence, as he runs away from a father he has deceived and a brother he has
cheated. (The ‘ladder’ image corresponds to a ‘Ziggurat’ or staircase in Babylonian
temples; Bethel means ‘house of Cod’)
1 Peter 2, 1 – 10
With Gentile Christians in mind, St. Peter rejoices that they have become built into
the spiritual house, which is the Church founded on Jesus.
John 10, 22 – 29
Sheltering from rough weather during one of his visits for Temple Festivals, Jesus is
challenged by the Jewish hierarchy. In the verses following this passage St. John
reports that the Jews ‘fetched stones to stone him’.
HARVEST HYMNS SERVICE
Psalm 104, 1 – 24
In Psalm 104 we are invited to praise our Creator God through the eyes and the
images of middle-eastern folk several thousand years ago. The Psalm has parallels in
the Creation story at the beginning of the Bible and in a much more ancient Egyptian
hymn of praise to the Sun. Never forget that when you are praying the Psalms you are
using Our Lord’s prayer book!
Psalm 65, 9 – 12
Our Hebrew ancestors pictured God recreating the earth with each annual cycle of
the seasons. Psalm 65 would be used at an agricultural festival and was perhaps
originally written after a period of drought.
Deuteronomy 8, 6 – 10
From the Rule Book of the Hebrew Religion seven centuries before Christ we hear the
conviction that the Holy Land is God’s lavish gift to his chosen people. To this day
Zionism clings to this belief. (This passage is immediately followed by a warning
against affluence – “Take care not to forget the Lord your God”)
Luke 12, 22 – 34
Both Matthew and Luke record Jesus’ insistence on trust as a remedy for anxiety. But
Luke presses the matter further adding the challenge that trust leads to sacrificial
generosity.