Tag: Reign of God
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 17 [22]): The Psalm Passage – From praise to puzzlement to praise; a movement of the spirit
“O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.” (Psalms 105:1) I am often impressed and stand in awe of the Revised Common Lectionary’s matching of various types of scripture passages. This week especially the Psalm’s passage seems to be right in line with the Old Testament…
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 17 [22]): The Old Testament Passage – Called out by the Great “I AM”
Moses had discovered in his early adult life that he was not cut out to be the adopted son of the Pharaoh’s daughter. The story of his realization and departure from Egypt comes before this passage. “Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the…
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 16 [21]): The Psalm Passage – A Preacher and Seeker dialog dedicated to those who stand for peace and compassion
Preacher: “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side — let Israel now say – “ Seeker: If the Lord God had not been standing with us . . . Preacher: “ . . . if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked…
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 14 [19]): The Old Testament Passage – Moves
When I sat down to write this, I had just gotten done posting the unofficial announcement (that may be turning more official as time goes by) that I plan on moving “operations” over to my other blog, “Pondering From the Pacific”. Of course, beloved reader, you are reading this a week and a day after…
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 13 [18]): The Psalm Passage – Petitioning the Lord God on the basis of what will be in the future
“Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.” (Psalm 17:1) While this psalm is being used in conjunction with the story of Jacob awaiting the morning when he will see his brother Esau for the first time in over fourteen years, I am…
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 12 [17]): The Psalm Passage – Wrestling with the Psalms, of all things!
Do you remember, beloved reader, from back on Tuesday when we talked about how Jacob had treated his brother Esau, and deceived his father? And he, Jacob, was deceived by his uncle, his mother’s brother? And the week before, we talked about Jacob and his dream of the ladder up to heaven, and God giving…
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 12 [17]): The Epistles Passage – It can be a hard life, beloved reader
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26) Paul has just got done exhorting us to hope, just as I have commended to hope even though you cannot see what you…
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 12 [17]): The Old Testament Passage – Lessons to be learned and legacies to be established
We pick up the story of Jacob when he had reached the ancestral home of his grandfather and his mother. His uncle Laban, now married himself and and with daughters, has agreed to employ Jacob to tend his flocks. But wants Jacob to earn more than just his room and board. Jacob has an idea…
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 11 [16]): The Psalm Passage – Far away, and close to home . . . the Lord is there
“O LORD, you have searched me and known me.” (Psalm 139:1) As you may have figure out, beloved reader, this Psalm passage is meant to match up with the other scripture readings this week, and by consequence, match the Old Testament passage concerning Jacob. But I think every person in the Old Testament who had…
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Season after Pentecost (Proper 10 [15]) : The Psalm Passage – Summing up the theme for this week, and holy scripture in general
I am having a little bit of a challenge trying to figure out what Psalm passage to us. Normally I would use the one that is linked to the Old Testament passage that I used, but I sort of made use of both. (See Tuesday of this week.) I used the Isaiah passage most overtly,…
A Simple Desire 