Wednesday October 9 Pentecost 20
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Psalm 128
Joy and prosperity come for those who seek God’s justice. Although the imagery is of abundance in family life, we may also experience that abundance in our sense of being full persons as we deepen our ability to care.
Psalm 129
We have been oppressed since our youth, but God ensures those who oppressed us will be defeated. They will be as useless and as stunted as stray wheat growing on a roof, and nobody will wish them well.
We may have confidence that evil directions in our world will come to nothing.
Psalm 130
There isn’t much hope of us getting things right by ourselves. But I am waiting, as if in the darkness of night for the tiniest glimmer of dawn, for God to bring God’s loving kingdom into being.
Micah 2.1-13 What’s Micah about?
God accuses the people of terrible injustice to the poor and dependent. As a result, foreign nations will conquer them. The people ask for preachers who will tell them everything is OK—they would even be happy to have drunk preachers if they told the people not to worry! Even so, God is ready to offer them safety.
Luke 7.18—35 What’s Luke about?
John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask if Jesus is the image of God who has come to bring in God’s kingdom. Jesus doesn’t answer directly but points to all the events which are signs of the kingdom breaking in. He then praises John as the greatest prophet, because he had the courage to defy the violence of the Roman empire, but nevertheless, following Jesus’ path of death and resurrection is the only way into the kingdom. If people rejected John because he was too demanding and reject Jesus because he is too joyful, they are simply obstinate.
This week’s collect:
Almighty God,
you have built your Church
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
Join us together in unity of spirit by their teaching,
that we may become a holy temple, acceptable to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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