RCL Readings 28 March 2010
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 22:14-23:56



As one would expect for Holy Week there are some raw emotions in this week’s readings. The Old Testament reading from Isaiah 50:4-9a is one of the ‘Servant Songs’. The servant is portrayed as a teacher who first listens to God. Pray for a listening ear for yourself and pray for those who have a teaching ministry within the life of the Church that they too may have an open ear to God. The servant, having heard, faithfully speaks God’s word and encounters a strong reaction from his hearers – they strike him, pull out the hairs of his beard, insult and spit upon him. Why do people, why do we, react so strongly against God’s word? This calls for a time of self-examination leading to confession. The servant is not daunted by the abuse of others. The servant of the Lord experiences God’s help. Therefore the Lord’s servant is not deflected from the task – “I have set my face like flint” (v.7 see also Luke 9:51). As you reflect upon this passage you will sense the parallels with the passion narrative of the Gospel reading Luke 22:14 – 23:56.

The section of Psalm 31 selected for today (verses 9-16) is the agonised heartfelt cry of someone in a very desperate place. There is a danger when reading these particular verses of thinking “surely, no one I know is ever in that kind of place”. That simply is not true – people, and that may include you, have been or are in such a place. Belief and trust in God (v.14 and the verses that precede & follow the selected verses for today) are no insurance policy against such a ‘dark night of the soul’. What this Psalm does is say that if we are in such a place we can/should/need to carry on talking to God and to do that with utmost honesty. If we are not in such a place ourselves we need to acknowledge that some people are, that it is not a sign of lack of belief or faith, that their cry is expressed to God and therefore pray for them and for understanding on our part so as not to exasperate their plight (v.11).

Philippians 2:5-11 has a very different feel to it. These verses are a continuation of Paul’s urging his readers to live as sisters and brothers in Christ (2:1-4). Make verse 5 your prayer for the Church: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus”. Verses 6-11 draw from the hymns or liturgy of the time and spell out, along with the earlier verses of the chapter, what this prayer will mean. We can only live verses 1-4 if we have the mind of Christ as reflected in verses 6-11. Consider your relationship with one another within the Church in the light of these verses. Make confession. Commit yourself to this way of living. Seek God’s help.

The Gospel reading of the passion narrative (Luke 22:14 – 23:56) is a long reading and I suggest that it is the kind of reading you need to sit with for some time and read in small sections pausing to reflect after each incident in the narrative. If possible read Luke 22:14 – 63 on Thursday and Luke 22:66 – 23:56 on Friday. Try to visualise the scenes and identify the emotions of those present.

RCL Readings 21 March 2010
(5th Sunday of Lent)
Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 126
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8

There is something extravagant about these readings. The extravagance of God’s love and the extravagance of human response to that love. In worldly terms “what a waste”!

Psalm 126 begins by recalling God’s past act of salvation which met with the response from the people: “our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy” and “the LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced” (v.2 & 3). As we reflect upon God’s saving acts and God’s presence with us our response should likewise be one of unbridled joy and praise. However, the Psalmist realises that life can and does take a negative turn. In such circumstances the Psalmist doesn’t forget the former saving acts of God and only focus on the present tears and troubles, rather the Psalmist prays for God to “restore” so that tears and weeping become shouts of joy. If we, or others, are in a place of tears or weeping let us in our prayers remember God’s past acts of salvation and in the light of them pray for the present.

At first sight it might appear that the reading from Isaiah 43:16-21 flies in the face of such recalling when God says “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old” (v.18). What God is pointing to are the things we normally place our trust in and the tendency to rely only on a past experience (in this case the exodus from Egypt). God declares “I am about to do a new thing” (v.19) – the new thing is not unrelated to God’s past actions and here it is portrayed as a second exodus and calls for a present recognition by the people, hence the question “do you not perceive it?” As we journey in faith what is it that God is doing or about to do that prompts the God-question “do you not perceive it?”

Paul, very aware of the benefits of his background, counts them as “loss” and “rubbish” in comparison to “the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:4b-14). Paul’s language is strong as he lays aside the things that would normally put him in good standing in the eyes of others – his credentials and achievements. What is vital for Paul is having “a righteousness … that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith” (v.9). What is vital for you? Where in lies your security? Paul in response to what God has done in Christ lets go “of what lies behind” (the things that ordinarily people would consider important) and “presses on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus” (v.14). This is counter cultural for us today as it was for Paul. What are the things to leave behind? What is the heavenly call for you?

The Gospel reading (John 12:1-8) contrasts Mary’s response to Jesus with that of Judas. Mary’s response is totally extravagant while Judas hides behind a false high moral ground of concern for the poor. Looked at superficially Mary was wrong and Judas was right – Mary wasted something of great value and Judas questions the appropriateness of the act and speaks up for the poor. Jesus sees the heart and that is revealing! Jesus is not unconcerned for the poor – they are always there and you can and should always do something to alleviate their plight says Jesus. Mary recognises the importance and significance of this moment and responds with extravagant love which is affirmed and accepted by Jesus. This Lent let us get to the heart of the matter – extravagant love. Let us not hide behind a pretend concern for the poor, let our extravagant love be also matched by a costly commitment to fight poverty and injustice in all its forms.

There are moments in life that call for an extravagant response, moments when we must put to one side cold calculation and caution, and give of ourselves wholeheartedly. At the series of meetings I am currently attending one person quoted from the leaving speech of a former Secretary of the Methodist Conference, Revd Brian Beck, when he allegedly spoke of his one regret that "We've not learnt to be as generous as God has been to us."