Lectionary for Epiphany 3
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; what should I dread? Psalm 27:1
Collect. O loving God, you are the light of the minds that know you, the life of the souls that love you, and the strength of the hearts that serve you. Help us so to know you that we may truly love you; and so to love you that we may faithfully serve you; whom to serve is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading. 1 Corinthians 1:10-18. Writing from Ephesus Paul is giving guidance to the congregation he has worked with on an earlier missionary journey. In the first nine verses of this chapter Paul emphasises the Name of Jesus in each verse. Thus he is laying the foundation for what he is about to teach the Corinthian church, Jesus is all that matters.
In this small portion of his letter Paul is making two significant points. Firstly Paul reminds them of their unity as Christians under Christ and secondly and perhaps more importantly the efficacy of the message of the cross of Christ.
We notice the gentle approach that Paul makes as he begins to guide them. It is clear that for him a lot is at stake. This is the beginning of the Christian Faith,; it is not the monolith it is today and Paul wisely saw that then as now, division is death. If the congregation in Corinth was to survive unity was important. However it is not a unity won by striving or even making good choices, it is unity based on what Jesus has done for each member. Jesus has established their unity by giving each believer a clean fresh start. Perhaps Paul was thinking of the words from Isaiah, “Come now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool”. (Isaiah 1:18.) This is the new start that Jesus gives to each believer. We all begin from the same place and it is this which enables us to have unity. The unity of believers is not something we have to manufacture but it is something we have to work to maintain. We do this by remembering that each one of us is incorporated into the fellowship of believers through the merits of Jesus Christ and nothing else. To live in disunity is to forget or ignore all that Christ has done on our behalf. Together we make up the body of Christ and Christ is not divided.
Paul then reinforces that message by reminding the Corinthians that it was Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that won the redemption that freed each believer from the disobedience and failures of the past. For Paul the message of the cross is more than simply words. We need to remember that crucifixion was simply not talked about in polite company, such was the horror and degradation crucifixion inflicted. Thus on the one hand Paul is reminding them of the action of Jesus’ sacrifice that enabled them to believe. On the other hand he is reminding them that the change of status so won for them is demonstrated by the way they live. For those who do not believe Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross seems to be foolishness, but to believers it demands a tangible change of which unity is but a small part. The cross is not a clever philosophy but is God’s action in and on the life of each believer.
As we read this and think of our own congregation and fellowship we would be blind not to see that the message Paul gave to his congregation in Corinth still applies today. A fellowship that is divided will not attract new believers to join for it will not represent the person or the work of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ command was for us to love one another; sadly we often find it easier to judge one another assuming that we know best; as if we had more status than those we criticize. Each believer is challenged to recognise what Jesus has done for them and give thanks to God that they are counted among the people for whom Christ died.
Prayer. Holy Lord, we give you all thanks and praise, for you have brought us into •fellowship with yourself and each other. Through your love and power you have bound us to yourself. Teach us to rely on you fully, always ready to obey your command to love and serve. May we be yours alone. Forgive us when we presume to be better than others. Grant that our hearts be humble, always recognising your Lordship over us. Keep us close to you we pray, that we may hear your word of correction and guidance and so play our part in the great fellowship that is your Church. This we pray in the Name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit; One God for ever more. Amen
Reading. Matthew 4:12-23. By the time of Jesus the kingdoms of Judah and Israel had effectively ceased to be. It was true that Herod was on the throne but Herod came from the family of Esau and so a whole new dynasty had begun. With this in mind it is easier to understand why the Jewish people were looking for a true king, one that came from within the kingly line of David. This was the long expected Messiah. Thus in our reading Matthew is highlighting the tensions that existed for Jesus. The arrest of John the Baptist shows the way that Herod responded to any threat or criticism of his absolute power. Furthermore Matthew then draws on the ancient prophecy of Isaiah that the people who were in darkness have seen the light! Naming Zebulun and Naphtali would remind the readers of the ancient kingdom of Israel, a kingdom long vanquished and considered to have been abandoned and forgotten by God. However the essential message of the prophecy was that God had not forgotten to care for his people.
With that as background, Matthew then records that Jesus wisely withdrew from the region of Jerusalem and settled in the more accepting region of Galilee. It was in this region that the prophecy from Isaiah was to be fulfilled. It is not surprising that Matthew notes the twin themes that Jesus proclaims; namely the establishment of the kingdom of heaven and the need for repentance. Jewish history understood that the failure to obey God was the primary cause of the demise of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, along with Judah’s exile in Babylon. The picture that Matthew paints is one of hope for the light has once more begun to shine on those in the darkness of disobedience.
Matthew is reminding his Jewish readers that Jesus is their true hope for restoration and freedom under the rule of God. Jesus holds up the vision of God’s Kingdom and once that vision is glimpsed the need for repentance takes shape. When we think of repentance it is often linked with moral issues. However in the time of Jesus a “sinner” was someone who had given up trying to follow the way of life that the Law demanded. What had begun as ten words (commandments) and grown to be hundreds of laws that dictated how every aspect of life was to be lived. The struggle of simply surviving meant they had lost hope and as a consequence had lost faith in God.
Matthew has framed the message of Jesus in order to declare that through Jesus the hope that God is ready to establish his kingdom has crystallised. This is to be a kingdom that is prepared and ready to welcome all. (Isaiah 61:1-3). In the days to come the mountain of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Isaiah 2:2.
The light has started to shine and a new way is beginning. In Matthew’s passage we then have the epiphany or unveiling of Jesus Christ the messenger who brings hope not only to the Jews but to all those who hear God’s call.
Prayer. Gracious Lord Jesus, with a humble spirit we would draw near to you in prayer and meditation. You are the hope of the world and to you only do we give allegiance If we have been in the wilderness draw us back. If we have wandered away from your truths, in your mercy correct and guide us. If our hope in you is failing, refresh us again with the first love with which we loved. Inspire us with your Holy Spirit that our faith may be enlivened and our trust in you renewed. Then Lord by your grace may we be bold to bless and serve you in all that we say and do. For this we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Collect. Saviour Jesus, dawning light, you call us to follow. We thank you for Peter and Andrew, James and John, who left their nets when you called; may we also go with you, and walk the road at your side, for you are the Way, now and for ever. Amen.
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