Proper 14C - (August 8, 2010)

[Jon Twitchell]

First reading and Psalm

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20
Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

Alternate First reading and Psalm

Genesis 15:1-6
Psalm 33:12-22

Second reading

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Gospel

Luke 12:32-40

[Shea Zellweger]

I have been told I'm preaching the Luke passage, and calling it something along the lines of "The unexpected King." I think I'll utilize the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1ff as a parallel passage, but I'm not sure whether Luke 12:32-40 would be best used as an expansion of the principles in Matthew 25, or presented in contrast to it. I see the Luke passage as telling the hearer to be ready to go where the Spirit leads at any time, while Matthew 25 has traditionally been understood as being specifically in regard to the "Rapture." My basic thought is that although many people seem to be ready for Jesus to come and lead them "home," what we should really be focusing on is being ready for God to lead us anywhere. I'm also going to take an intentional rabbit trail into what it means to be "ready." I think that in many instances, we need to be ready to be ready. If My family and I are called to foreign missions tomorrow, we will need to make various preparations (passports, vaccinations, fundraising, etc.). Being ready for Jesus to lead us does not mean going out and getting those passports and vaccinations "just in case," but rather being responsive to the leading of the Spirit such that should the occasion arise that we are so called, we then go and make the necessary preparations.

[John Reilly]

why did the lectionary not finish colossians? Still chapter 4 to go.