RCL Readings Sunday 17 October 2010
Jeremiah 31:27-34
Psalm 119:97-104
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8

Many a congregation knows their hymnbooks better than their Bibles! Think about it – which do you know best? Three of today’s readings exhort and encourage us to give Scripture a proper place in our lives. Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and our reading focuses on verses 97-104 and the emphasis is upon “meditating” upon God’s word – we might say pondering and reflecting on it, mulling it over in our mind and heart – so that it begins to shape our way of thinking, our values, our attitudes and our consequent ways of behaving. This is not about learning texts and sticking them to each situation but rather about being formed by our reading of Scripture.

The prophet Jeremiah having briefly looked again at the consequence of the people’s sin (31:27-30) begins to look forward to a future time when God says “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts” (31:33). There will be a naturalness about people’s relationship with God and the ways of God. This “new covenant” (relationship) will first and foremost be an intimate one (“they shall all know me” – imagery taken from the marriage partnership) and inward rather than an externally imposed one – written “on their hearts” rather than tablets of stone. Because it is a deep inner relationship it will radically shape the way people live.

In different ways both these readings speak about being open to God. This week find time to slowly read all the passages set for the week. Phrases, words and images that catch your attention spend time turning them over in your mind, slowly pondering them and asking “what are they telling me about God, or about myself, or about my world?”

In the Pastoral Letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:14-4:5) we are reminded that scripture is a gift from God and has to do with the very practical business of the life of God’s people. In both the letters to Timothy there has been an emphasis on teaching and handling the word of God rightly. Here we are reminded of how scripture is “useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (3:16) and the purpose of such use is “so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work” (3:17). This is not always an easy task! The time may be “favourable or unfavourable” but it needs to be done; people will have “itchy ears” and prefer “teachers to suit their own desires” (4:3); but Timothy (we) must “do the work of an evangelist, carry out your (our) ministry fully” (4:5). Pray for the courage to listen to God’s word even when it is uncomfortable and profoundly challenging. Seek to discern whether something is of God or it just suits your desires and predilections – not easy but it comes from allowing God’s word to shape, fashion and form us.

The Gospel reading (Luke 18:1-8) reminds us that central to being formed and shaped by our encounter with scripture is prayer and justice. The parable, we are told, is to remind people of “their need to pray always and not to lose heart” (v.1). The story of a not particularly nice judge who only relents to stop a widow from constantly pestering him is contrasted with a God who delights to listen and delights to grant justice. Sadly the image of God we sometimes give is more akin to the judge! May prayer become as natural as breathing and may we recognise God’s delight in listening and working with us for justice. Pray and work for justice. The passage ends with a tantalising question in verse 8 – what will the answer be?