ISSL Reflections January 1 2023 2 Chronicles 7:12–22 Post 2

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IV.
As we return to our hearing of this passage, notice verses 15-16,

“Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house so that my name may be there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time.”

V.
2 Chronicles 7:12-22 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain or command the locust to devour the land or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house so that my name may be there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time. As for you, if you walk before me as your father David walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my ordinances, then I will establish your royal throne, as I made a covenant with your father David saying, ‘You shall never lack a successor to rule over Israel.’

“But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck you up from the land that I have given you, and this house, which I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And regarding this house, now exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord the God of their ancestors who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they embraced other gods and worshiped them and served them; therefore he has brought all this calamity upon them.’ ”

VI.
As noted in the previous post, this passage is set in Solomon’s dedication of the new Temple.

Certainly looked upon as a holy and sacred place for the nation of Israel and its King.

Maybe even more than that –

“Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house so that my name may be there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time.”

It seems God promised to be there in a special way. And to see and hear what goes on in that place.

Where do you go to assure that your prayer is heard?

Is there a sacred place for you that seems nearer to God’s presence than other places?

If you recognize such a place, why?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections January 1 2023 2 Chronicles 7:12–22 Post 1

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I.
Notice anything familiar?

This passage contains as verse 14, “…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

I suspect many of us have heard that a number of times as a sermon text and perhaps as a call to “national repentance.”

And, why not? It seems to give a 4-step method to being in God’s good standing.

This week let’s notice the entirety of this passage. And we might start with, “Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and …”

The prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the Temple begins at 2 Chronicles 6:12. You may want to take that into account as you spend time with this passage.

II.
2 Chronicles 7:12-22 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain or command the locust to devour the land or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house so that my name may be there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time. As for you, if you walk before me as your father David walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my ordinances, then I will establish your royal throne, as I made a covenant with your father David saying, ‘You shall never lack a successor to rule over Israel.’

“But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will pluck you up from the land that I have given you, and this house, which I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And regarding this house, now exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord the God of their ancestors who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they embraced other gods and worshiped them and served them; therefore he has brought all this calamity upon them.’ ”

III.
What in this passage draws your attention the most deeply?

The promise to forgive? The “steps” that lead to forgiveness? The warning to not to forsake God’s statutes and commandments?

Something else?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 25 2022 Luke 1:46–55 Post 3

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VIII.
Today we are two days away from Christmas Day and again turn our attention to listening to Mary’s words of praise.

As you go to these words once again, listen to Mary. Use your imagination to hear her sing these words from her heart.

As you listen to Mary, remember these words come after she has been given a glimpse of her path and “Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’”

IX.
Luke 1:46-55 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
      and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
      Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
      and holy is his name;
indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
      from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
      he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
      and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
      and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
      in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
      to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

X.
What does Mary rejoice about?

She speaks of great things God does, of God’s holiness, of God’s strength, of God’s mercy and God’s lifting up the lowly.

Which of these speaks to you with the most force?

If (or when) you come to the place where you can say, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word,” what would your next words be?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 25 2022 Luke 1:46–55 Post 2

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IV.
Today I included both Mary’s song of praise and Hannah’s prayer in the post.

Pay attention to the world described in the words of both women.

V.
Luke 1:46-55 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
      and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
      Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
      and holy is his name;
indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
      from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
      he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
      and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
      and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
      in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
      to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NRSVue)

Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;
       my strength is exalted in my God.
My mouth derides my enemies
       because I rejoice in your victory.

There is no Holy One like the Lord,
       no one besides you;
       there is no Rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly;
       let not arrogance come from your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
       and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
       but the feeble gird on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
       but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven,
       but she who has many children is forlorn.
The Lord kills and brings to life;
       he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
       he brings low; he also exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
       he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
       and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
       and on them he has set the world.

He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
       but the wicked will perish in darkness,
       for not by might does one prevail.
The Lord! His adversaries will be shattered;
       the Most High will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
       he will give strength to his king
       and exalt the power of his anointed.”

VI.
This week I came across a reference to these two Scriptures by a professor of Hebrew Scripture in which he mentions the “reversal” these passages speak to.

“Ethan Jones, associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, pointed to the similarities between Mary’s Song (Luke 1:46-55) and Hannah’s Song (1 Samuel 2) to say that God has set the world “in reverse.”

“[Mary’s song] really sets the agenda for the gospel of Luke as a whole,” Jones said. “It’s this reversal theme of the enemies have been overturned, the poor are lifted up, the needy are lifted up, the powerful are put down.”

In 1 Samuel 2, Hannah praises God for the reversal of her affliction of being childless even as she keeps her promise to give her son Samuel back to God by leaving him with Eli the priest to raise. As Hannah praises God saying, “The bows of the warriors are broken” (verse 4), Mary sings, “He has toppled the mighty” (verse 52).

(https://www.nobts.edu/news/articles/2022/christmasgreatreversal.html)

VII.
What about you?

Is Professor Jones onto something here?

Do these prayers and praises address something of a counter-cultural element in the Scripture?

Do the words of these two women suggest “reversals” you think are needed in the world you live in?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 25 2022 Luke 1:46–55 Post 1

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I.
We come this week to Mary’s song (or maybe her prayer) of praise and thanksgiving.

After you spend time with her words you may want to take some time to compare it with Hannah’s words at 1 Samuel 2.

II.
Luke 1:46-55 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
      and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
      Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
      and holy is his name;
indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
      from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
      he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
      and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
      and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
      in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
      to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

III.
Let’s go back and reread her words once more and this time notice what points to her and what points beyond her.

Do you find her words speak to where you find yourself in the world?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL December 18 2022 Luke 3:2–18 Post 3

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VII.
As we close this week with John the Baptizer, what do you think of John?

Are you impressed by him or put off by him?

VIII.
Luke 3:2-18 (NRSVue)

… during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
     make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
     and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
     and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people.

IX.
We’re told he came “… proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins … So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people.”

Then there is that “brood of vipers” comment and his talk of an “ax,” “winnowing fork” and “fire.”

Then as he is asked “What, then, shall we do?” He gives very direct replies that are specific to the questioners’ life and work.

One more thought – we hear again and again the words of Isaiah about the one who is “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord …’”

I wonder as he was growing up how many times his father told him of the words of the angel and Zechariah’s own realization of the path his son was called to. Did he ever have questions about what his life might become? Did he ever consider a different path? Maybe the life of a priest like his father?

I wonder.

And then he displays such humility in face of his own fame, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

What kind of model does he offer for us today of how Jesus’ disciples can be both resident in the Kingdom of God and invite others to journey the Kingdom path?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL December 18 2022 Luke 3:2–18 Post 2

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IV.
Who do you notice listening to John the Baptizer?

V.
Luke 3:2-18 (NRSVue)

… during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
     make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
     and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
     and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people.

VI.
If you were traveling from one of the villages to Jerusalem and as you approached the Jordan you heard a loud voice, and saw a crowd gathered around a man who was shouting something about the Kingdom and the Messiah and forgiveness, would you go around them to avoid this fellow, or might you come nearer to hear him better?

What captures people’s attention and draws them to John?

The account here as well as the account at Matthew 3 suggests folks from all positions in society came to hear John.

What provokes Pharisees, Sadducees, tax collectors as well as soldiers to listen to both John’s warning and his “good news”?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL December 18 2022 Luke 3:2–18 Post 1

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I.
As you read this passage take note of where John the Baptizer was, who was coming to hear him, and where did they come from, and why did they come.
II.
Luke 3:2-18 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

… during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
     make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
     and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
     and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people.

III.
John attracted a diverse group. They seemed to engage with him not only listening to his warnings and exhortations but asking him questions, with him answering.

He mixed proclamation about the Spirit, sin, fire, forgiveness and the gospel writer reports this is “good news.”

Why do you think folks out to hear this kind of good news? Why would you come to listen to John?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 11 2022 Luke 1:57–66, 76–79 Post 3

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VII.
Our time with Elizabeth and Zechariah comes during our season of Advent. Which seems appropriate since one of the themes associated with Advent is the dawning of … of what, a new age, the Kingdom, the birth of Jesus and here the birth of John.

As you read this week’s Scripture passage consider how the words of Elizabeth and Zechariah speak to what is coming for them and for others.

VIII.
Luke 1:57-79 (NRSVue)

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
     for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us
     in the house of his child David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
     that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors
     and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
     in his presence all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
     for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
     by the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
     the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
     to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

IX.
While Zechariah speaks much more than Elizabeth in this passage, it is clear that she has taken Gabriel’s words to her husband seriously and she will name the child as they have been directed. The naming of their son will come about with the proper name and in the right time.

Zechariah’s words suggest he has begun to understand that his son is to have a part, as many others have, in the coming of God’s kingdom. Many have waited for the dawning of God’s kingdom and now it is one step closer.

During this season of Advent, where are you seeing the Kingdom come nearer?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 11 2022 Luke 1:57–66, 76–79 Post 2

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IV.
Let’s expand our reading today to include all the words attributed to Zechariah on this occasion.

V.
Luke 1:57-79 (NRSVue)

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
     for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a mighty savior for us
     in the house of his child David,
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
     that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors
     and has remembered his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness
     in his presence all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
     for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
     by the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
     the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
     to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

VI.
After an extended period without his voice, and now having found his voice once again, and with a jump-start from the Holy Spirit he answers the question of those present, “What then will this child become?”

He has moved past the question he put to Gabriel, “How can I know that this will happen?”

What brings him past his questioning of Gabriel to his recounting of God’s presence with the people of the covenant, the work and words of the “holy prophets of old,” and his faith that his child will be one in the line of those “holy prophets of old”?

What part does his time of silence contribute to his words? What part does a time of waiting contribute? What part does a time to reflect contribute? And what part does the Spirit of the Lord contribute to his vision for whom John will become?

Is it any one of those or the coming together of all of them?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}