Sunday October 3 Pentecost 19
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Psalm 118
An enthusiastic song of thanksgiving for everything God has done for us—God has protected us from evil forces, and we give praise in the temple and in processions. Appropriate for a Sunday as an anniversary of the triumph of Easter Day.
Portions of this psalm are traditionally sung on Easter Day.
2 Kings 20: 1-21 What’s Kings about?
The faithful king Hezekiah is very ill but Isaiah says he will recover and God will defend Jerusalem. As proof, Isaiah asks God to move the sun backwards. Hezekiah’s commitment to the God of justice ensures safety for the people and God’s commitment to them is demonstrated by this miracle of the sun. If God can make the sun move backwards then it’s no problem for God to reverse the intentions of the king of Assyria. Nevertheless, the evil of former and subsequent kings will have consequences, and Isaiah predicts that Babylon will conquer Jerusalem. The king dies of old age as appropriate for a faithful king. God has allowed that respect to happen.
Luke 7: 11-17 What’s Luke about?
Today is Sunday, so we read of a young man whom Jesus raises from death—this is a kind of resurrection which we celebrate every Sunday.
A widow who loses her only son is a woman without male protection—a personal disaster in the ancient world. So this miracle is about giving new life to the son and to the woman.
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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