Monday September 23 Pentecost 18
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Psalm 77
God is not responding when I call in trouble. But I will not forget the amazing things God did in the past.
Psalm 79
Evil people have destroyed your temple. Come and help because we are your sheep.
Esther 4.4-17 What’s Esther about?
Esther plans to go un-summoned to the King, to plead for mercy for her people. This is the opposite of the former queen who refused to come when summoned. Either offence is punishable by death. She is offering her life for her people.
Luke 3.1-14 What’s Luke about?
We now begin reading through Luke’s gospel with Luke’s account of John the Baptist. John is re-enacting Joshua’s entrance into God’s promised land, through the Jordan river, a thousand years earlier. John expects that just as in the original entrance into their land the city of Jericho was destroyed, so now in his own time the Roman empire will also fall. John invites everyone who longs for the overthrow of Rome to join him and to adopt God’s life-style of justice to all.
Notice how Luke, who believes that Christianity can partner with Rome, places this event with careful reference to the Roman governing structure and portrays even the Roman soldiers as being supportive.
Each of the gospel writers brings a unique perspective to their understanding of Jesus. That fact gives us permission in our time for us to apply our own perspectives from our historical context. Luke finds hope for God’s victory over oppression from a global perspective. Is there a way for us to see a global perspective on oppression in our time?
This week’s collect:
Almighty God,
you have created the heavens and the earth,
and ourselves in your image.
Teach us to discern your hand in all your works
and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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